Attenuated salmonella SP12 mutants as antigen carriers

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to vaccines, in particular, to an attenuated gram-negative cell comprising the SPI2 gene locus, wherein at least one gene of the SPI2 locus is inactivated, wherein said inactivation results in an attenuation/reduction of virulence compared to the wild type of said cell, and to a carrier for the presentation of an antigen to a host, which carrier is said attenuated gram-negative cell, wherein said cell comprises at least one heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence coding for said antigen, wherein said cell is capable of expressing said nucleic acid molecule or capable of causing the expression of said nucleic acid molecule in a target cell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] In 1996, over 17 million people world-wide, mainly in developing countries, were killed by various infections. The appearance and spread of antibiotic resistances coupled with the increase in world-wide travel has led to an increasing risk for the outbreak of pandemic infections. This possibility must be taken very seriously since, for some pathogenic bacteria, the therapeutic alternatives available have been reduced to a single option. Intriguingly, pathogenic bacteria have also been discovered to be a relevant factor in many chronic diseases. Stomach cancer, for example, is the second most common cancer world-wide and is directly linked with chronic Helicobacter pylori infections. Chlamydia pneumoniae has been detected in arteriosclerotic plaques and recently this bacterium has been found in the diseased regions of the brain of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Many autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, seem to have bacterial origin. Borrelia burgdorferi is, in addition to many other bacteria, a prominent example of an organism causing disease affecting increasing numbers of people. Finally, Nanobacteria have been identified in the chronically diseased kidneys of patients with crystalline deposits. Other serious chronic diseases are caused by viral pathogens, the most clinically relevant are Hepatitis B and C viruses (liver cancer) and the human papilloma virus (cervical cancer).

[0002] The increasing clinical importance of bacterial pathogens has provoked increased discussion regarding the paradigm of medicinal treatment or prevention as the means to handle chronic diseases. Consistently, some chronic diseases have been successfully cured by antibiotic treatment. However, as indicated above, all micro-organisms are genetically capable of rapidly generating progenies with adequate antibiotic resistances, thus impeding efficient routine treatment. Conclusively, vaccines represent an excellent alternative to pharmacological drugs, and, considering the financial aspect that disease prevention is less cost-intensive than therapy, the option of vaccination is even more attractive. Therefore, the therapeutic vaccination approach has become particularly relevant, especially with respect to the treatment of cancer and chronic bacterial or viral diseases.

[0003] The most frequently practised approach uses oral delivery of either inactivated pathogens (dead vaccine) or parenteral injections of a defined mixture of purified components (subunit vaccines). Most of the dead vaccines are efficacious, however, the risk that the inactivation procedure was incomplete and that the vaccinee may become infected remains a problem. Furthermore, dead vaccines very often do not cover all genetic variants that appear in nature. The subunit vaccines abolish most of the disadvantages of the traditional dead vaccines. However, they require technologically advanced antigen and adjuvant preparations, which makes such vaccines relatively expensive. Furthermore, the subunit vaccines are preferentially inoculated by the parenteral route, which is not the optimal route for eliciting a broad immune response. In particular, the mucosal branch of the immune system, which is the primary line of protection against many pathogens, is strongly neglected by parenteral immunisations.

[0004] Another generation of vaccines is represented by live attenuated vaccines, which are based on pathogenic bacteria or viruses that have been mutated to apathogenic variants. These variants multiply in vivo for a limited period of time before they are completely cleared by the host. Their limited prevalence in the host tissue is sufficient to adequately provoke the host immune system, which is then able to establish a protective immune response. From the safety aspect, live attenuated bacterial vaccines are more favoured than live attenuated viral vaccines. Should a live bacterial vaccine becomes threating for a vaccinee, the attenuated bacteria can generally be controlled by antibiotic treatment. In contrast, live viral vaccines, which use the replication apparatus of the host cell, are almost impossible to control. Live bacterial vaccines are typically administered orally and serve as excellent stimulators of the mucosal immune system. Moreover, live bacterial vaccines are also good stimulators of the systemically active immune system, namely the humoral and cellular branches. Due to these excellent immuno-stimulatory characteristics, live bacterial vaccine strains, such as Salmonella, are ideal carriers for expressing antigens from a heterologous pathogen. Such bivalent (or multivalent) vaccines mediate protection against two pathogens: the pathogen homologous to the carrier as well as the pathogen whose protective antigen(s) are expressed by the carrier. Although no bivalent bacterial vaccine expressing heterologous antigens is currently in use, potential carriers currently under investigation include Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), Salmonella species, Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli.

[0005] In the attenuation process, mutations are preferentially targeted to genes that support the survival of the pathogen in the host. Initially, chemical mutation regimes were applied to the Salmonella typhi strain Ty2, resulting in what were thought to be perfectly attenuated pathogens capable of mediating protective immunity, in contrast to the dead homologue. However, subsequent large-scale clinical trails revealed that such strains were still not sufficiently efficacious in the prevention of typhoid fever. It appears that such strains were mutated in several genes, resulting in an over-attenuation, which adversely affects the immunogenic potential of the strain. Novel typhoid vaccine strains have been developed by the introduction of genetically defined mutations. Most of these mutations have been established in S. typhimurium. Infection with S. typhimurium causes typhoid fever-like symptoms in mice and murine salmonellosis is a well accepted model for human typhoid. Such vaccine strains contain mutations in proteins causing deficiencies in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids (e.g. aroA, aroC and aroD) or purines (e.g. purA and purE), in the adenylate cyclase gene (cya) or the cAMP receptor protein (crp), or possess mutations affecting the regulation of several virulence factors (phoP and phoQ). However, although a number of attenuated mutants have been generated and characterised in the mouse model with regard to their role in virulence, relatively few of them have been evaluated as vaccine carriers in humans. The reason for this is that the mutants used are either still too virulent, causing severe side effects in the host, or are not sufficiently immunogenic, due to inadequate presentation to the immune system, which requires a critical level of persistence of the vaccine strain in the host for activation.

[0006] A recent study revealed that the inactivation of individual Salmonella genes causing attenuation of virulence directly influences the quality of an immune response against the vaccine carrier strain. From this finding, one can conclude that it might be possible to generate a variety of differently attenuated Salmonella vaccine strains, each with a unique profile and individual capabilities for eliciting an immune response. With this repertoire, it might be possible to tailor a vaccine strain according to specific immunological demands. As a logical consequence, one should also be able to develop attenuated Salmonella vaccine strains for either prophylactic or therapeutic purposes. However, the means by which such a representative repertoire of Salmonella vaccine strains is obtained and further developed into an efficacious vaccine must be determined.

[0007] In cases in which a Salmonella vaccine strain is used as a carrier for heterologous antigens, additional parameters must be considered. Traditionally, heterologous antigens have been expressed in the Salmonella cytosol. In the mouse typhoid model, it was demonstrated that, when heterologous antigens are expressed at high levels in the Salmonella cytosol, inclusion bodies are often formed, which negatively influence the immunogenicity of the recombinant live vaccine strain in the vaccinated host. It was concluded that the formation of inclusion bodies might be fatal for the bacterium, further decreasing vitality and increasing attenuation, and thus lowering the immunogenicity. Indeed, specific expression systems that circumvent this secondary attenuation principle, e.g. the 2-phase regulated expression system, can improve the efficacy of the presentation of heterologous antigens to the host immune system.

[0008] It has been demonstrated that secretion of antigens by live attenuated Salmonella can be superior to intracellular expression of the same antigens both in eliciting protective T-cell responses (Hess et al., 1996; Hess et al., 1997b) and in eliciting elevated levels of antigen-specific antibody (Gentschev et al., 1998). Efficiencies of HlyA-directed secretion systems, however, are usually low (30% or less of total synthesized antigen) (Hess et al., 1997a; Hess et al., 1996), and the system seems to be problematical in S. typhi for export of heterologous antigens (Orr et al., 1999).

[0009] A similar immunological profile is induced by the two type III secretion systems, which are encoded by the Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands 1 and 2. These complex secretion machineries naturally deliver “effector proteins” into the cytosol of the infected host cell, supporting the survival of the pathogen within the host cell. By means of gene technology, the “effector proteins” can be converted into carrier vehicles for epitopes from heterologous antigens. Such chimeric “effector proteins” lose their virulent character but retain their secretory character. Consequently, the chimeric “effector protein” is delivered into the lumen of the host cell, where it is appropriately processed and subsequently stimulates the cytotoxic branch of the host immune system.

[0010] The most abundant protein secreted by Salmonella is flagellin (see, for example (Hueck et al., 1995)). In S. typhimurium, flagellin occurs in two allelic variants, FliC or FljB, while S. typhi carries only the FliC gene. Flagellin is secreted via the flagellum-specific export (FEX) pathway (Macnab, 1996; Minamino and Macnab, 1999), which is homologous to the type III secretion pathway (Hueck, 1998). It also has been shown recently that the FEX pathway functions in secretion of non-flagella proteins in Yersinia enterocolitica (Young et al., 1999). Like in type III secretion, the amino terminus of FliC directs secretion. Thus, a truncated version of 183 amino terminal amino acids of FliC (full length is 495 aa) is constitutively secreted in large amounts (Kuwajima et al., 1989). In analogy to type III secretion, the effective secretion signal in FliC may be as short as 10 to 20 amino acids. The FliC or FljB secretion signals can potentially be used to secrete large quantities of a heterologous protein which can serve as an antigen in heterologous vaccination. It is likely that the amount of secreted antigen can be even further increased in regulatory mutants affecting the expression of flagella biosynthesis genes (Macnab, 1996; Schmitt et al., 1996) or by using recombinant promoters to drive expression of the flagellin gene.

[0011] Secretion via the FEX pathway can allow the delivery of large amounts of antigen into the Salmonella-containing phagosome for early and efficient antigen processing and antigen presentation to the host immune system. Especially the MHC class II dependent branch of the host immune system is strongly supported by the FEX pathway mediated antigen delivery.

[0012] The other known export machineries and surface display systems of Gram-negative bacteria can be also applied to bacterial vaccine carriers such as Salmonella. In general, a good immune response is achieved when the antigen is presented on the Salmonella surface. However, as little is known about the immunological consequence of such antigen presentation systems, further experimental work is needed.

[0013] Additional immuno-modulatory effects can be achieved when environmentally regulated Salmonella promoters are used for the expression of heterologous antigens. For instance, the expression of a heterologous gene in a Salmonella carrier strain under control of the in vivo regulated stress response htrA gene promoter resulted in a stronger immune response than was obtained when under control of the anaerobically inducible promoter of the nirB gene.

[0014] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence comprising at least 50 nucleotides a) of the nucleic acid sequence of one of FIGS. 21A, B, b) of an allele of the nucleic acid sequence of one of FIGS. 21A, B or c) of a nucleic acid sequence which under stringent conditions hybridizes with the nucleic acid sequence of one of FIGS. 21A, B.

[0015] Stringent hybridization conditions in the sense of the present invention are defined as those described by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989), 1.101-1.104. According to this, hybridization under stringent conditions means that a positive hybridization signal is still observed after washing for 1 hour with 1×SSC buffer and 0.1% SDS at 55° C., preferably at 62° C. and most preferably at 68° C., in particular, for 1 hour in 0.2×SSC buffer and 0.1% SDS at 55° C., preferably at 62° C. and most preferably at 68° C.

[0016] In particular, the present invention relates to such a nucleic acid molecule which comprises the complete coding regions or parts thereof of the genes ssaD, ssaE, sseA, sseB, sscA, sseC, sseD, sseE, sscB, sseF, sseG, ssaG, ssaH, ssaE, ssaJ, ssrA and ssrB. The invention pertains also to such nucleic acids, wherein at least one coding region of said genes is functionally deleted.

[0017] In one embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule comprises an insertion cassette to facilitate the insertion of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule by transposon or phage mediated mechanism.

[0018] Furthermore, said nucleic acid molecules can comprise at least one heterologous nucleic acid molecule. In this case the heterologous nucleic acid molecule may be fused 5′ or 3′, inserted or deletion-inserted to the inventive nucleic acid molecule. By the term “deletion-inserted” it is understood that the insertion of the heterologous nucleic acid molecule is associated with a concurrent deletion of parts of the inventive nucleic acid molecule. Preferably, the nucleic acid molecule is inserted or deletion-inserted and in one preferred embodiment the heterologous nucleic acid molecule is flanked 5′ and 3′ by sequences of the nucleic acid molecule according to the invention, wherein each of said sequences has a length of at least 50 nucleotides, preferably 200-250 nucleotides.

[0019] Preferred, the heterologous nucleic acid molecule codes for a polypeptide or peptide, more preferred it codes for a bacterial or viral antigen or a homologue thereof or for a tumor antigen.

[0020] It is preferred that the nucleic acid molecule also comprises at least one gene expression cassette to allow for efficient expression of the heterologous nucleic acid molecule. Such gene expression cassette usually comprises elements such as promoters and/or enhancers which improve the expression of the heterologous nucleic molecule acids. Usually, such gene expression cassette comprises elements for the termination of transcription. The presence of transcription terminators, however, may be not preferred in cases where the heterologous nucleic acid molecule is to be transcribed together with other genes into a cistronic mRNA.

[0021] The nucleic acid molecule, one or more selective marker cassettes and one or more transactivator cassettes and optionally invertase cassettes for allowing the expression of the heterologous nucleic acid molecules in a one-phase system or a two-phase system. Furthermore, sequences may be present which code for a polypeptide or peptide-targeting domain and, thus, allow for the targeting of the expression product of the heterologous nucleic acid molecule to a predetermined cell compartment such as cytosol, periplasma or outer membrane, or the secretion of said expression product, or which code for an immunostimulatory domain.

[0022] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a recombinant vector which comprises the nucleic acid molecule described above. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a cell comprising a modified inventive nucleic acid molecule as described above by insertion of a heterologous sequence or the recombinant vector. The cell may be a prokaryotic cell such as a gram-negative cell, e.g. a Salmonella cell, or it can be a eukaryotic cell such as a mammalian cell, e.g. a human cell, and, in particular, a macrophage.

[0023] According to a still further aspect, the present invention relates to a peptide or polypeptide comprising a peptide sequence comprising at least 20 amino acids a) of the sequence of one of FIGS. 23A-Q, or b) of a sequence which is 60%, preferred 65% and more preferred 70% homologous to the sequence of one of FIGS. 23A-Q. In particular, the invention relates to a polypeptide comprising the sequence a) of one of FIGS. 23A-Q, or b) which is 60%, preferred 65% and more preferred 70% homologous to the sequence of one of FIGS. 23A-Q.

[0024] Percent (%) homology are determined according to the following equation: $H = {\frac{n}{L} \times 100}$

[0025] wherein H are % homology, L is the length of the basic sequence and n is the number of nucleotide or amino acid differences of a sequence to the given basic sequence.

[0026] Another aspect of the present invention relates to an antibody which is directed against an epitope which is comprised of the aforementioned peptide or polypeptide. The antibody may be polyclonal or monoclonal. Methods for producing such an antibody are known to the person skilled in the art.

[0027] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a fusion protein comprising the polypeptide according to any one of the claims 17 and 18 having inserted or deletion-inserted or being fused C- or NH₂-terminally with at least one heterologous polypeptide. The heterologous polypeptide preferred is an antigen, more preferred a bacterial or viral antigen or a tumor antigen.

[0028] The present invention furthermore provides instructions for the development of a variety of potential live Salmonella vaccine strains with different attenuation levels, which subsequently serve as platforms for the development of recombinant live Salmonella vaccine carrier strains that express antigens from heterologous pathogens, thus serving as multivalent vaccines. Such recombinant live Salmonella vaccine carriers are equipped with modules comprising variable gene cassettes that regulate the expression of heterologous antigens in Salmonella and determine presentation of the heterologous antigens to the host immune system. By combinations of both systems, differently attenuated live Salmonella vaccine strains and variable gene cassettes, a variety of recombinant live vaccine carrier strains can be generated that have, due to their variable immunogenic characteristics, a broad application spectrum for both prophylactic and therapeutic use. The basic attenuation principle originates from novel mutations in the Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 (SPI2) gene locus. Additional mutations, which can be used either alone or in combination with mutations in sse or SPI-2 genes or in combination with the aroA mutation for optimal attenuation of live vaccine carrier strains, have been reported recently (Heithoff et al., 1999; Valentine et al., 1998). By combination of the individual mutations in the SPI-2 gene locus with each other and with other known attenuating gene mutations, such as aroA, etc., a broad repertoire of attenuation and immunogenicity can be achieved. Different expression cassettes can be introduced on these platforms, allowing further modulation of the immune response directed against the heterologous antigens. Finally, a library of individual recombinant live Salmonella vaccine carrier strains is generated, covering a broad spectrum of immuno-stimulatory potential, from which a genuine live vaccine strain can be tailored for the optimal protection or treatment of humans and/or animals against specific pathogens or disease.

[0029] Thus, in a further aspect, the present invention is an attenuated gram-negative cell comprising the SPI2 gene locus, wherein at least one gene of the SPI2 locus is inactivated, wherein said inactivation results in an attenuation/reduction of virulence compared to the wild type of said cell.

[0030] Genes present in the Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 that encode for a variety of proteins involved in type III secretion and those that are required for systemic spread and survival within phagocytic cells are ideal candidates for attenuation of pathogenic Salmonella ssp.

[0031] Several gram-negative bacterial pathogens secrete certain virulence proteins via specialised type III secretion systems. Virulence factors enable pathogenic bacteria to colonise a niche in the host despite specific attacks of the immune system. The type III secretion systems comprise a large number of proteins required to transfer specific effector proteins into eukaryotic host cells in a contact-dependent manner, thus they have also been called contact-dependent secretory systems. Although several components of the secretion system apparatus show evolutionary and functional conservation across bacterial species, the effector proteins are less well conserved and have different functions. The Yersinia effectors YpkA and YopH have threoninelserine kinase and tyrosine phosphatase activities, respectively. The actions of these and other Yops inhibit bacterial phagocytosis by host cells, which is thought to enable extracellular bacterial proliferation. The Shigella Ipa proteins, secreted by the mxi/spa type III secretion system, promote entry of this bacterium into epithelial cells. EspA, EspB and EspD, encoded by the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) are required for translocation of proteins that cause cytoskeletal rearrangements and the formation of pedestal-like structures on the host cell surface.

[0032] For the purposes of the present invention an “gram-negative cell comprising the SPI2 gene locus” is a cell having a gene locus that harbors genes required for the systemic spread and survival within phagocytic cells and, thus, is a homologue or functional equivalent of the SPI2 locus from Salmonella. Preferred, the inventive attenuated gram-negative cell is an Enterobactericae cell, more preferred, a Salmonella cell, a Shigella cell or a Vibrio cell. In general, cells having a broad host range are preferred. Typical hosts are mammals, e.g. man, and birds, e.g. chicken. Salmonella cells are more preferred, and particularly preferred is Salmonella serotype typhimurium Definitive Type 104 (DT 104).

[0033]Salmonella typhimurium is unusual in that it contains two type III secretion systems for virulence determinants. The first controls bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, and is encoded by genes within a 40 kb pathogenicity island (SPI1). The other is encoded by genes within a second 40 kb pathogenicity island (SPI2) and is required for systemic growth of this pathogen within its host. The genes located on pathogenicity island SPI 1 are mainly responsible for early steps of the infection process, the invasion of non-phagocytic host cells by the bacterium. For most of the SPI1 genes, mutations result in a reduced invasiveness in vitro. However, mutants that are defective in invasion are not necessarily avirulent; studies in mice demonstrated that, while these mutations in SPI1 genes significantly reduced virulence upon delivery by the oral route, they had no influence on virulence following an intraperitoneal route of infection. Taken together, these results indicate that mutations in genes within the pathogenicity island SPI1 do not abolish systemic infection and are therefore not very useful for the development of a safe, attenuated Salmonella carrier strain. In comparison, virulence studies of SPI2 mutants have shown them to be attenuated by at least five orders of magnitude compared with the wild-type strain after both oral and intraperitoneal inoculation of mice.

[0034] Many of the genes encoding components of the SPI2 secretion system are located in a 25 kb segment of SPI2. SPI2 contains genes for a type III secretion apparatus (ssa) and a two component regulatory system (ssr), as well as candidate genes for a set of secreted effectors (sse) and their specific chaperones (ssc). On the basis of similarities with genes present in other bacterial pathogens, the first 13 genes within the ssaK/U operon and ssaJ encode components of the secretion system apparatus. A number of additional genes, including ssaC (orf 11 in Shea et al., 1996; spiA in Ochman et al., 1996) and ssrA (orf 12 in Shea et al., 1996; spiR in Ochman et al., 1996), which encode a secretion system apparatus protein and a two component regulatory protein, respectively, are found in a region approximately 8 kb from ssaJ.

[0035] Preferably, the inventive attenuated gram-negative cell has inactivated at least one gene selected from effector (sse) gene secretion apparatus (ssa) genes, chaperon (ssc) genes and regulation (ssr) genes. More preferably, the at least one inactivated gene is an sse, ssc and/or ssr gene, even more preferred is an sse and/or ssc gene.

[0036] As far as the sse genes are affected by the inactivation, the inactivated gene is preferably sseC, sseD, sseE or a combination thereof. As far as the ssr genes are affected by the inactivation, preferably at least ssrB is inactivated. As far as the ssc genes are affected by the inactivation, preferably at least sscB is inactivated.

[0037] The inactivation of said gene of the SPI2 locus (or functional homologue thereof in cells other than Salmonella) is effected by a mutation which may comprise deletion. Preferred are deletions of at least six nucleotides, and more preferred is a deletion of the partial and, in particular, the complete coding sequence for said gene. The mutation may also comprise the insertion of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule into said gene to be inactivated or a combination of deletion and insertion.

[0038] Pathogenic Salmonella ssp. serve a basis for the construction of a panel of different live Salmonella vaccine prototypes generated by gradual attenuations accomplished through the introduction of defined SPI2 gene locus mutations. Each resulting individual live Salmonella vaccine prototype is further transformed into a multivalent recombinant vaccine by the introduction of exchangeable DNA modules carrying (1) genetically engineered genes from heterologous pathogens and (2) adequate expression systems executing efficacious antigen presentation to the host immune system. In concert, these features elicit a specific immune response that either protects vaccinated hosts against subsequently invading Salmonella and/or other pathogens (prophylactic vaccination) or eliminates persistant pathogens, such as Helicobacter pylori (therapeutic vaccination).

[0039] Pathogenic Salmonella ssp. are gradually attenuated by mutations in individual virulence genes that are part of the SPI2 gene locus, e.g. an sse gene coding for an effector protein, such as sseC, ssed or sseE, or an ssc gene, such as sscB, coding for a chaperone, or an ssr gene, such as ssrB, coding for a regulator. Individual mutation of each of these genes leads to a unique individual grade of attenuation, which, in turn, effects a characteristic immune response at the mucosal, humoral and cellular levels. The individual grade of attenuation can be moderately increased by combinations of at least two gene mutations within the SPI2 gene locus or by combination with a mutation in another Salmonella gene known to attenuate virulence, e.g. an aro gene, such as aroA. A stronger grade of attenuation is achieved by mutation of a virulence gene that is part of a polycistronic gene cluster encoding several virulence factors, such as the transcriptional unit comprising the sseC, sseD, sseE and sscB genes, such that the mutation exerts a polar effect, disrupting expression of the following genes. The grade of attenuation may directly depend on the number of virulence genes that are affected by the polar mutation as well as their individual characteristics. Finally, the strongest attenuation is achieved when regulatory genes, such as ssrB, are mutated. Again, each mode of attenuation of a Salmonella ssp. leads to the generation of a live Salmonella vaccine strain that evokes an immune response at the mucosal, humoral and cellular levels that is characteristic for the type and/or combination of attenuating mutations present in that strain. The panel of differently attenuated live Salmonella vaccine strains that is generated represents a pool of potential carrier strains from which that carrier can be selected that provokes the most efficacious immune response for either the prevention or eradiction of disease in conjunction with the heterologous antigens that are expressed.

[0040] Mutations leading to attenuation of the indicated Salmonella virulence genes are preferentially introduced by recombinant DNA technology as defined deletions that either completely delete the selected virulence gene or result in a truncated gene encoding an inactive virulence factor. In both cases, the mutation involves a single gene and does not affect expression of neighbouring genes (non-polar mutation). An insertional mutation in one of the indicated virulence genes is preferred when the selected gene is part of a polycistronic virulence gene cluster and all of the following virulence genes are included in the attenuation process (polar mutation). Insertional mutations with non-polar effects are in general restricted to genes that are either singly transcribed or are localised at the end of a polycistronic cluster, such as ssrB. However, other attenuating mutations can arise spontaneously, by chemical, energy or other forms of physical mutagenesis or as a result of mating or other forms of genetic exchange.

[0041] Thus, the mutation which results in the preparation of the inventive attenuated gram-negative cell may be a polar or non-polar mutation. Furthermore, the grade of attenuation may be modified by inactivating an additional gene outside of the SPI2 locus, for example, another virulence gene or a gene that is involved in the biosynthesis of a metabolite or a precursor thereof such as the aro genes, in particular, aroA, or any other suitable gene such as superoxide dismutase (SOD).

[0042] The attenuated cell according to the invention may furthermore comprise elements which facilitate the detection of said cell and/or the expression of an inserted heterologous nucleic acid molecule. An example of an element which facilitates the detection of the attenuated cell is a selective marker cassette, in particular, a selective marker cassette which is capable of conferring antibiotic resistance to the cell. In one embodiment, the selective marker cassette confers an antibotic resistance for an antibiotic which is not used for therapy in a mammal. Examples of elements which facilitate the expression of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule are a gene expression cassette which may comprise one or more promoter, enhancer, optionally transcription terminator or a combination thereof, a transactivator cassette, an invertase cassette for 1-phase or 2-phase expression of a heterologous nucleic acid. An example of an element which facilitates the insertion of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule is an insertion cassette.

[0043] In another aspect, the invention provides a carrier for the presentation of an antigen to a host, which carrier is an attenuated gram-negative cell according to any one of the claims 22 to 49, wherein said cell comprises at least one heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence coding for said antigen, wherein said cell is capable of expressing said nucleid acid molecule or capable of causing the expression of said nucleic acid molecule in a target cell.

[0044] Preferably, said nucleic acid molecules comprises a nucleic acid sequence coding for a bacterial or viral antigen or for a tumor antigen. Examples of bacterial antigens are antigens from Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Borrelia burgdorferi and Nanobacteria. Examples of viral antigens are antigens from Hepatitis virus, e.g. Hepatitis B and C, human papilloma virus and Herpes virus. The heterologous nucleic acid molecule may comprise a nucleic acid sequence which codes for at least one polypeptide or peptide-targeting domain and/or immunostimulatory domain. Thus, the expression product of said heterologous nucleic acid molecule may be targeted specifically to predetermined compartments such as periplasma, outer membrane, etc. The heterologous nucleic acid molecule may code for a fusion protein.

[0045] According to one embodiment the heterologous nucleic acid molecule is inserted into the SPI2 locus, preferred, into an sse gene and, more preferred, into sseC, sseD and/or sseE, in particular, sseC.

[0046] The insertion may be a polar insertion or an unpolar insertion. Generally, the introduction of an unpolar insertion is preferred, since it allows for the expression of the remaining genes of a polycistronic gene cluster, which can be used for the generation of carriers having different grades of attenuation.

[0047] Attenuated live Salmonella vaccines are used as carriers for specific antigens from heterologous pathogens, e.g. Helicobacter, etc., thus acting as a multivalent vaccine. The heterologous antigens are provided by a gene expression cassette (GEC) that is inserted by genetic engineering into the genome of an attenuated Salmonella strain. Preferentially, insertion of the gene expression cassette is targeted to one of the indicated virulence genes, thereby causing an insertional mutation as described in previous paragraph. In another application form, expression of the heterologous genes in the gene expression cassette is regulated by trans-acting factors encoded by a trans-activator cassette (TC) or an invertase cassette performing a 2-phase variable expression mode. Preferentially, the insertion of the trans-activator cassette is targeted to a second chosen virulence gene, which is then inactivated. Alternatively, the gene expression cassette or the trans-activator cassette or the invertase cassette can be introduced into the Salmonella genome by transposon-mediated insertion, which has no attenuation effect.

[0048] The principles of genetic engineering are required to generate either deletion or insertional mutations in Salmonella virulence genes. Generally, a suicide plasmid carrying a mutated virulence gene cassette containing a selective marker cassette (SMC) either alone or in combination with a gene expression cassette or a trans-activator cassette or the invertase cassette is introduced into the receptor Salmonella strain by conjugation. The original virulence gene is replaced with the mutated virulence gene cassette via homologous recombination, and the suicide plasmid, unable to replicate in the Salmonella receptor strain, becomes rapidly depleted. Successfully recombined Salmonella can be selected based on properties (such as, but not limited to, antibiotic resistance) conferred by the product of the gene(s) within the selective marker cassette. The mutated virulence gene cassette comprises DNA sequences that are homologous to the genome of the receptor Salmonella strain where the original virulence gene is localised. In the case where the original virulence gene is to be completely deleted, only those genomic DNA sequences that border the original virulence gene (indicated as flanking regions) are included in the mutated virulence gene cassette. The general architecture of a mutated virulence gene cassette includes at each end a DNA sequence of at least 50 nucleotides, ideally 200-250 nucleotides, that is homologous to the genome segment where the original virulence gene is localised. These DNA sequences flank a selective marker cassette and the other cassettes, such as the gene expression cassette (GEC) or the trans-activator cassette (TC) or the invertase cassette. As indicated above, these cassettes are used to generate insertional mutations which disrupt original gene expression. For in-frame deletions, a selective marker cassette is preferentially used.

[0049] The selective marker cassette (SMC) principally consists of a gene mediating resistance to an antibioticum which is able to inactivate the receptor Salmonella strain but which is actually not used in the treatment of Salmonellosis. Alternatively, another selectable marker can be used. The selective marker cassette is inserted in-frame in the targeted virulence gene and, consequently, the expression of the marker gene is under the control of the virulence gene promoter. Alternatively, the cassette is inserted within a polycistronic transcriptional unit, in which case the marker gene is under control of the promoter for this unit. In another application, the selective marker gene is under control of its own promoter; in this case a transcriptional terminator is included downstream of the gene. The selective marker is needed to indicate the successful insertion of the mutated virulence gene cassette into the genome of the receptor Salmonella strain. Furthermore, the antibiotic resistance marker is needed to facilitate the pre-clinical immunological assessment of the various attenuated Salmonella strains. In another application form, the selective marker is flanked by direct repeats, which, in the absence of selective pressure, lead to the recombinatorial excision of the selective marker cassette from the genome, leaving the short sequence of the direct repeat. Alternatively, the selective marker cassette can be completely removed by recombinant DNA technology. Firstly, the selective marker cassette is removed by adequate restriction endonuclease from the original mutated virulence gene cassette on the suicide plasmid leaving the flanking region sequences which are homologous to the Salmonella genome. The suicide plasmid is then transfered into the attenuated receptor Salmonella strain by conjugation where the SMC-depleted mutated virulence gene cassette replaces the SMC-carrying mutated virulence gene cassette by recombination. After removal of the selective marker, the attenuated Salmonella strain is free for the application in humans. Transcriptional terminator sequences are generally included in the cassettes when polar mutations are established.

[0050] The gene expression cassette (GEC) comprises elements that allow, facilitate or improve the expression of a gene. In a functional mode the gene expression cassette additionally comprises one or more gene expression units derived from either complete genes from a heterologous source or fragments thereof, with a minimal size of an epitope. Multiple gene expression units are preferentially organised as a concatemeric structure. The genes or gene fragments are further genetically engineered, such that the resulting proteins or fusion proteins are expressed in the cytosol, in the periplasm, surface displayed or secreted. Furthermore the genes or gene fragments can be fused with DNA sequences encoding immunologically reactive protein portions, e.g. cytokines or attenuated bacterial toxins. The genes or gene fragments are either controlled in a one-phase mode from a promoter within the gene expression cassette or in a 2-phase mode or indirectly by a trans-activator cassette (TC). In the one-phase mode the promoter is preferentially a Salmonella promoter that is activated, i.e. induced, by environmental signals but also constitutive promoters of different strength can be used. In the 2-phase mode, the expression of the gene cassette is controlled by an invertase that derived from an invertase cassette. The invertase catalyses the inversion of a DNA segment comprising the gene cassette. The DNA segment is flanked on each end by an inverted repeat which is the specific substrate for the invertase finally causing two orientation of the gene cassette with respect to the gene expression cassette promoter. In the ON-orientation the gene cassette is correctly placed allowing transcription of the gene cassette. In OFF, the orientation of the gene cassette is incorrect and no transcription occurs. The invertase cassette comprises of an invertase that is controlled by a constitutive promoter or a Salmonella promoter induced or derepressed by environmental signals.

[0051] Heterologous antigens encoded within the gene expression cassette can be expressed under the control of a promoter, e.g. a tissue-specific promoter, which may be constitutive or inducible. The expression can be activated in a target cell, whereby a signal is transmitted from the target cell to the interior of the Salmonella cell, which signal induces the expression. The target cell, for example, can be a macrophage. The expression product may comprise a targeting domain or immunostimulatory domain, e.g. in the form of a fusion protein. The heterologous protein itself also may be a fusion protein. The heterologous antigens can be optionally expressed as cytosolic, periplasmic, surface displayed or secretory proteins or fusion proteins in order to achieve an efficacious immune response. The antigen encoding sequences may be fused to accessory sequences that direct the proteins to the periplasm or outer membrane of the Salmonella cell or into the extracellular milieu. If the heterologous polypeptides are secreted, secretion can occur using a type III secretion system. Secretion by the SPI2 type III secretion system is suitable. Proteins that are destined for the cytosolic compartment of the Salmonella do not need accessory sequences, in this case, naturally occurring accessory sequences must be removed from the genes encoding such antigens.

[0052] The accessory sequences for the periplasmatic compartment of Salmonella comprise a DNA sequence deduced from the amino-terminally localised signal peptide of a heterologous protein naturally translocated via the general secretion pathway, e.g. CtxA, etc.

[0053] The accessory sequences for the outer membrane compartment of Salmonella preferentially comprise DNA sequences deduced from the functionally relevant portions of a type IV secretory (autotransporter) protein, e.g. AIDA or IgA protease. The appropriate fusion protein contains an amino-terminally localised signal peptide and, at the carboxy-terminus, a β-barrel shaped trans-membrane domain to which the foreign passenger protein is coupled via a spacer that anchors the passenger protein to the bacterial surface.

[0054] The accessory sequences for secretion into the extracellular milieu comprise DNA sequences deduced from proteins naturally secreted by the type III secretion system. In a generally functional fusion protein, the heterologous antigen is fused in the centre of a protein naturally secreted by the type III pathway or at the carboxy-terminal end of the respective protein.

[0055] The transactivator cassettes (TC) provide activators which generally improve expression of the heterologous antigens encoded by the various gene expression cassettes. Such activators either directly (RNA polymerase) or indirectly (transcriptional activator) act on the transcription level in a highly specific order. Preferentially, the expression of such activators are controlled by Salmonella promoters which are induced in vivo by environmental signals. In another application form the synthesis of the activator within the transactivator cassette is regulated in a 2-phase mode. The invertase expressed by the invertase cassette places the activator encoding DNA fragment in two orientations with respect to the transcriptional promoter. In the ON-orientation the activator gene is in the correct transcriptional order. In the OFF-modus the activator is incorrectly orientated and no expression occurs.

[0056] In the simple system, the gene product of the transactivator cassette exerts its effect directly on the promoter present in the gene expression cassette, directly activating or de-repressing expression of the heterologous gene. In the complex system, activation of the promoter in the heterologous gene expression cassette is dependent upon two or more interacting factors, at least one of which (encoded in the transactivator cassette) may be regulated by external signals. Further complexity is found in cascade systems, in which the external signal does not directly exert its effect on the transactivator cassette, but rather through a multi-step process, or in which the gene product of the transactivator cassette does not directly exert its effect on the heterologous gene expression cassette, but rather through a multi-step process.

[0057] According to still another aspect, the present invention is an attenuated gram-negative cell comprising the SPI2 gene locus, characterized by a lack of at least one SPI2 polypeptide, wherein said lack results in an attenuation/reduction of virulence compared to the wild type of said cell. Preferably, said missing SPI2 polypeptide is one or more effector polypeptide, secretion apparatus polypeptide, chaperon polypeptide or regulatory polypeptide. Furthermore, said attenuated cell may be a carrier which then is characterized by the presence of at least one heterologous peptide or polypeptide having immunogenic properties.

[0058] A further aspect of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition which comprises as an active agent an immunologically protective living vaccine which is an attenuated gram-negative cell or carrier according to the invention. The pharmaceutical composition will comprise additives such as pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, carriers and/or adjuvants. These additives are known to the person skilled in the art. Usually, the composition will administered to a patient via a mucosa surface or via or via the parenteral route.

[0059] Further aspects of the present invention include a method for the preparation of a living vaccine, which comprises providing a living gram-negative cell comprising the SPI2 locus and inactivating at least one gene of the SPI2 locus to obtain an attenuated gram-negative cell of the invention, and optionally inserting at least one heterologous nucleic acid molecule coding for an antigen to obtain a carrier according to the invention. A further aspect pertains to a method for the preparation of a living vaccine composition comprising formulating an attenuated cell or a carrier according to the invention in a pharmaceutically effective amount together with pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, carriers and/or adjuvants. A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for the detection of an attenuated cell or a carrier according to the invention, comprising providing a sample containing said cell and detecting a specific property not present in a wild type cell. Methods for detecting a specific property of the attenuated cell or carrier, which is not present in wild type, are known to the person skilled in the art. For example, if this specific property of the attenuated cell comprises a deletion of one or more parts of the SPI2 locus, then the presence of said cell can be detected by providing a pair of specific primers which are complementary to sequences flanking this deletion and amplifying a fragment of specific length using amplification methods such as PCR. Methods for detecting the presence of an inventive carrier comprise PCR amplification of an inserted fragment or a fragment spanning the insertion boundary, hybridization methods or the detection of the heterologous expression product or of a selective marker.

[0060] A further aspect of the invention is a method for establishing a library of attenuated gram-negative cells or carriers, respectively, according to the invention. The method comprises the preparation of attenuated recombinant vaccine strains, each having a different mutation in the SPI2 locus which results in a different degree of attenuation. The pathogenicity or virulence potential of said strains can then be determined using known methods such as determination of the LD50, and the strains are rated according to the different pathogenicities, i.e. a different grade of attenuation. Preferably, the method comprises also the determination of other parameters of interest such as the immunogenicity or the immuno-stimulatory response raised in a host. Methods for determining the immuno-stimulatory potential are known to the person skilled in the art and some of them are described in Example 6. Preferably, the immuno-stimulatory potential of the inventive attenuated cells or carriers is determined at humoral, cellular and/or mucosal level. In this way it is possible to establish a library of attenuated cells or carriers having a predetermined attenuation degree and predetermined immuno-stimulatory properties. Thus, for each application, the strain having the desired properties can be selected specifically. For example, it will be usually preferred to select a strong attenuated strain for administration to patients which receive immunosuppressive drugs.

[0061] In a similar way, the invention allows for the establishment of libraries of attenuated carriers having defined pathogenicities and optionally immunogenicities. The establishment of a carrier library additionally will comprise the determination of the antigen presentation of said carrier strains to a host, whereby a panel of different carriers strains will be obtained having defined properties with respect to pathogenicity, immuno-stimulatory potential of carrier antigens and immuno-stimulatory potential of the heterologous antigen.

[0062] Another aspect of the invention is the use of the attenuated cell or carrier according to the invention for the preparation of a drug for the preventive or therapeutic treatment of an acute or chronic disease caused essentially by a bacterium or virus. For example, for the prevention or treatment of a Salmonella infection one will administer an attenuated Salmonella cell to raise the immune response of an affected patient. Similarly, a carrier according to the invention may be used for the preparation of a drug for the preventive or therapeutic treatment of a tumor.

[0063] The individual immuno-protective potential of each of the established recombinant Salmonella vaccine strains is determined in a mouse model using a pathogenic Salmonella typhimurium as the challenge strain.

[0064] Determination of the virulence potential of the recombinant Salmonella vaccine strain: (1) Competitive index or LD50; (2) Systemic prevalence in blood, liver and spleen strictly excluded.

[0065] Determination of the immuno-stimulatory potential of the carrier strain with a cytosolically expressed heterologous test antigen: (1) Single oral immunisation and subsequent evaluation of the short- and long-term immune response: (a) analysis of the humoral immune response profile, (b) analysis of the mucosal immune response profile, (c) analysis of the cellular immune response profile; (2) Multiple oral immunisations and subsequent evaluation of the short- and long-term immune response: (a) analysis of the humoral immune response profile, (b) analysis of the mucosal immune response profile, (c) analysis of the cellular immune response profile.

[0066] Determination of the immuno-stimulatory potential of the carrier strain for the delivery of heterologous DNA (DNA vaccination).

[0067] Preferentially, the Salmonella acceptor strain has a broad host range, exhibiting significant pathogenicity in both animals and humans. Ideally, this is a Salmonella strain that is strongly pathogenic for mice, such as S. typhimurium. After successful development of the recombinant Salmonella vaccine strain, the strain is directly applicable for use in both animals and humans. If such an ideal Salmonella acceptor strain is not satisfactory for the respective host, other host-specific Salmonella must be selected, such as S. typhi for humans.

[0068] Other aspects of the invention relate to the use of a nucleic acid molecule as shown in FIG. 21A or B or one of the FIGS. 22A-Q, optionally modified as described hereinabove or of a vector as described hereinabove for the preparation of an attenuated cell, a living vaccine or a carrier for the presentation of an antigen to a host and to the use of the Salmonella SPI2 locus for the preparation of an attenuated cell, a living vaccine or preferably a carrier for the presentation of an antigen to a host. In this context the term “Salmonella SPI2 locus” refers to any nucleic acid sequence, coding or not coding, and to the expression product of coding sequences.

[0069] A still further aspect of the present invention is the use of a virulence gene locus of a gram-negative cell for the preparation of a carrier for the presentation of an antigen to a host.

[0070] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of therapeutically or prophylactically vaccinating an animal, e.g. a mammal, e.g. a human, against a chronic disease caused primarily by a infectious organism including preparation and administering a vaccine of the invention.

[0071] Still another aspect of the present invention is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid of at least 100 nucleotides a) of the nucleic acid sequence of one of FIGS. 24A, B, b) of a nucleic acid sequence which under stringent conditions hybridizes with the nucleic acid sequence of one of FIGS. 24A, B.

[0072] In particular, said aspect relates to said nucleic acid molecule which is capable of inducing the expression of a nucleic acid sequence conding for a peptide or polypeptide operatively linked to said nucleic acid molecule.

[0073] The in vivo inducible promoter Pivi comprises a DNA fragment which carries sequences for an operator and a transcriptional promoter. Such in vivo inducible promoter can be identified by applying an adequate reporter gene approach. Two of such in vivo inducible promoters have been identified within the SPI2 locus which initiate expression of the ssaBCDE operon (promoter A2) and the sseABsscAsseCDEsscBsseFG operon (promoter B), respectively. These promoters are induced by a regulative system comprising the ssrA and ssrB gene products. This regulative system is part of the SPI2 locus responsible for the activation of additional SPI2 locus genes. The regulative system is activated in macrophages by environmental signal(s) via sensor protein SsrA. The SsrB protein finally binds at a defined DNA sequence which initiates transcription through the RNA polymerase.

[0074] In an application form the DNA fragment comprising operator/promoter sequences is inserted in front of an invertase gene or an activator gene or a gene expression cassette, thereby executing an in vivo inducible expression in bacteria carrying at least the ssrA and ssrB genes or the complete SPI2 locus.

[0075] Thus, in a further aspect, the invention relates to an expression system for the in vivo inducible expression of a heterologous nucleic acid in a target cell, comprising a carrier cell for said heterologous nucleic acid, wherein said carrier cell comprises (a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 23P (ssrA) or a functional homologue thereof, (b) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 23Q (ssrB) or a functional homologue thereof, and (c) the nucleic acid molecule of one of FIGS. 24A, B or a functional homologue thereof, as described above.

[0076] The target cell may be any suitable cell but preferably it is a macrophage. The carrier cell preferably is a Salmonella cell. The target cell may also comprise one or more of the elements described above such as selective marker cassettes, gene expression cassettes, transactivator cassettes, invertase cassettes and/or insertion cassettes. Furthermore, it may comprise a heterologous nucleic acid, in particular, the heterologous nucleic acids may be inserted into a gene expression cassette, thus rendering the GEC functional.

[0077] A still further aspect of the invention relates to the use of a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 100 nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence shown in one of FIGS. 24A, B or hybridizing therewith and having promoter activity, for the in vivo inducible expression of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule.

[0078] A further aspect of the present invention is the use of said nucleic acid molecule for the detection of in vivo inducible promoters.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

[0079] The strains, material, and methods used in the type III secretion system of the Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 (SPI2) work described above are as follows:

[0080] Mice

[0081] Female BALB/c (H-2^(d)) of 6-12 weeks of age were maintained under standard conditions according to institutional guidelines. This study was approved by an ethic committee for animal use in experimental research.

[0082] Bacterial Strains, Phages and Plasmids

[0083] The bacterial strains, phages and plasmids used in this study are listed in Table 1. Unless otherwise indicated, bacteria were grown at 37° C. in Luria Bertani (LB) broth or agar, supplemented with ampicillin (50 μg/ml), kanamycin (50 μg/ml), or chloramphenicol (50 μg/ml) where appropriate. Eukaryotic cells were grown in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% of foetal calf serum (FCS), 100 U/ml penicillin, 50 μg/ml streptomycin, 5×10⁻⁵ M 2-mercaptoethanol and 1 mM L-glutamine (GIBCO BRL; Prisley, Scotland). To achieve constitutive expression of 1-gal, the plasmid pAH97 (Holtel et al., 1992) was electroporated into the carrier strains as described elsewhere (O'Callaghan and Charbit, 1990). TABLE 1 Phages, plasmids and bacterial strains used in this work. Phage, plasmid or strain Description Reference Phages λ1 clone from a library of S. typhimurium Shea et al., 1996 genomic DNA in λ1059 λ2 clone from a library of S. typhimurium Shea et al., 1996 genomic DNA in λ1059 λ5 clone from a library of S. typhimurium Shea et al., 1996 genomic DNA in λ1059 Plasmids pBluescriptKS+, Amp^(r); high copy number cloning vectors Stratagene, pBluescriptSK+ Heidelberg pUC18 Amp^(r); high copy number cloning vector Gibco-BRL, Eggenstein pT7-Blue Amp^(r); high copy number cloning vector Novagen, Heidelberg pCVD442 suicide vector Donnenberg et al., 1991 pACYC184 Cm^(r),Tet^(r); low copy number cloning vector Chang and Cohen, 1978 pGPL01 R6K ori, Amp^(r); λpir-dependent Gunn and Miller, suicide vector for luc fusions 1996 pLB02 R6K ori, Amp^(r); λpir-dependent Gunn and Miller, suicide vector for luc fusions 1996 pGP704 R6K ori, Amp^(r); λpir-dependent Miller and suicide vector Mekalanos, 1988 pKAS32 Amp^(r); λpir-dependent suicide vector; Skorupski and rpsl^(s) Taylor, 1996 pNQ705 R6K ori, Cm^(r); λpir-dependent suicide vector Forsberg et al., 1994 pSB315 Kan^(r), Amp^(r) Galan et al., 1992 p1-6 Amp^(r), 4.8 kb PstI/BamHI fragment of λ1 in this work pT7-Blue p1-20 1.7 kb BamHI/HincII fragment of p1-6 in pKS+ this work p1-21 aphT cassette in EcoRV site of p1-20 this work p1-22 XbaI/KpnI insert of p1-21 in pKAS32 this work p2-2 Amp^(r), 5.7 kb BamHI fragment of λ2 in pUC18 this work p2-20 1.6 kb HindIII/HincII fragment of p2-2 this work in HindIII/SmaI-digested pKS+ p2-21 aphT cassette in HincII site of p2-20 this work p2-22 insert of p2-21 in pKAS32 this work p2-50 3.7 kb BamHI/KpnI fragment of p2-2 in pKS+ this work p5-2 Amp^(r); 5.7 kb EcoRI fragment of λ5 in pKS+ this work p5-30 3.0 kb PstI/EcoRI fragment of p5-2 in pUC18 this work p5-31 aphT cassette in EcoRV site of p5-30 this work p5-33 SphI/EcoRI insert of p5-31 in pGP704 this work p5-4 Amp^(r); 5.8 kb HindIII fragment of λ5 in pSK+ this work p5-40 4.5 kb SstI/HindIII fragment of p5-2 in pKS+ this work p5-41 aphT cassette in SmaI site of p5-40 this work p5-43 KpnI/SstI insert of p5-41 in pNQ705 this work p5-5 Amp^(r); PstI digestion of p5-4 and religation this work of the larger fragment p5-50 2.6 kb BamHI/ClaI fragment of p5-2 in pKS+ this work p5-51 aphT cassette in HindIII site of p5-50 after this work Klenow fill-in p5-53 XbaI/SalI insert of p5-51 in pGP704 this work p5-60 ClaI-digestion of p5-2 and religation of larger this work fragment p5-8 Amp^(r), 2.2 kb PstI/HindIII fragment of this work p5-2 in pSK+ psseA Cm^(r); sseA in pACYC184 this study psseB Cm^(r); sseB in pACYC184 this study psseC Cm^(r); sseC in pACYC184 this work E. coli strains DH5α see reference Gibco-BRL S17-1 λpir λpir phage lysogen (see reference) Miller and Mekalanos, 1988 CC118 λpir λpir phage lysogen (see reference) Herrero et al., 1990 XL1-Blue see reference Stratagene S. typhimurium strains NCTC12023 wild-type Colindale, UK CS015 phoP-102::Tn10d-Cm Miller et al., 1989 CS022 phoP^(c) Miller et al., 1989 P2D6 ssaV::mTn5 Shea et al., 1996 P3F4 ssrA::mTn5 Shea et al., 1996 P4H2 hilA::mTn5 Monack et al., 1996 P6E11 spaRS::mTn5 Shea et al., 1996 P8G12 ssrB::mTn5 Shea et al., 1996 P9B6 ssaV::mTn5 Shea et al., 1996 P9B7 ssaT::mTn5 Shea et al., 1996 P11D10 ssaJ::mTn5 Shea et al., 1996 NPssaV ssaV::aphT, Km^(r); non-polar mutation Deiwick et al., 1998 HH100 sseAΔ:::aphT, Km^(r); non-polar mutation this study HH101 HH100 containing psseA this study HH102 sseBΔ:::aphT, Km^(r); non-polar mutation this study HH103 HH102 containing psseB this study HH107 sseFΔ:::aphT, Km^(r); non-polar mutation this study HH108 sseG::aphT, Km^(r); non-polar mutation this study MvP102 ΔsseEsscB,_Km^(r); non-polar mutation this work MvP103 sseC::aphT, Km^(r); non-polar mutation this work MvP103[psseC] MvP103 containing psseC this work MvP131 ssaB::luc in S. typhimurium NCTC12023 this work MvP127 sseA::luc in S. typhimurium NCTC12023 this work MvP239 sipC::lacZY, EE638 in S. typhimurium Hueck et al., 1995; NCTC12023 this work MvP244 ssaB::luc in S. typhimurium P8G12 this work MvP266 ssaH::luc in S. typhimurium NCTC12023 this work MvP284 ssrA::aphT, Km^(r); non-polar mutation this work MvP320 ssrB::aphT, Km^(r); non-polar mutation this work MvP337 in-frame deletion in sseC this work MvP338 in-frame deletion in sseD this work MvP339 in-frame deletion in sscB this work MvP340 in-frame deletion in ssrA this work SL7207 S. typhimurium 2337-65 hisG46, gift from DEL407 aroA::TnI(Tc-s) B. A. D. Stocker III-57 sseC Δ sseC this work

Example 1 Distribution of the Pathogenicity Island SPI-2 within Different Salmonella Strains

[0084] The presence of open reading frames of the SPI-2 region in various Salmonella isolates and E. coli K-12 was analyzed by Southern hybridization as shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 Prevalence of SPI-2 genes in various Salmonella ssp. deduced from representative gene probes serovar/ Species subspec. serotype ssrAB ORF S. enterica I typhimurium + + S. enterica I typhi + + S. enterica II + + S. enterica IIIa + + S. enterica IIIb + + S. enterica IV + + S. enterica VI + + S. enterica VII + + S. bongori 66:z41:— − + S. bongori 44:z48:— − + E. coli K-12 − −

[0085] Presence or absence of hybridizing bands is indicated by + or −, respectively.

[0086] Hybridization

[0087] Genomic DNA of various Salmonella strains and E. coli K-12 was prepared as previously described (Hensel et al., 1997a). For Southern hybridization analysis, genomic DNA was digested with EcoRI or EcoRV, fractionated on 0.6% agarose gels and transferred to Hybond N⁺ membranes (Amersham, Braunschweig). Various probes corresponding to the SPI-2 region were obtained as restriction fragments of the subcloned insert of λ1. Probes corresponding to ORF 242 and ORF 319 were generated by PCR using primer sets D89 (5′-TTTTTACGTGAAGCGGGGTG-3′) and D90 (5′-GGCATTAGCGGATGTCTGACTG-3′), and D91 (5′-CACCAGGAACCATTTTCTCTGG-3′) and b92 (5′-CAGCGATGACGATATTCGACAAG-3′), respectively. PCR was performed according to the specifications of the manufacturer (Perkin-Elmer, Weiterstadt). PCR products were submitted to agarose gel electrophoresis and fragments of the expected size were recovered and purified. Hybridization probes were labeled using the DIG labeling system as described by the manufacturer (Boehringer, Mannheim).

Example 2 Characterization of sse Genes and Construction of sseC::aphT, sseD::aphT and sseEΔ Mutant S. typhimurium Strains MvP103, MvP101 and MvP102

[0088] Organization of sse and ssc Genes

[0089] In order to characterize SPI2 genetically and functionally, a central region of the pathogenicity island (FIG. 1A) has been cloned and sequenced. DNA fragments covering the region between ssaC and ssaJ were subcloned in plasmids p5-2 and p5-4 as indicated in FIG. 1C. The arrangement and designation of genes in the 8 kb region between ssaC and ssaK is shown in FIG. 1B. This sequence will be available from the EMBL database under accession number AJ224892 in the near future. The sequenced region extends the open reading frame (ORF) of a gene encoding a putative subunit of the type III secretion apparatus referred to as spiB (Ochman et al., 1996). For consistency with the universal nomenclature for type III secretion system subunits (Bogdanove et al., 1996) and the nomenclature of other SPI2 genes (Hensel et al., 1997b), this gene has been designated ssaD. The deduced amino acid sequence of ssaD is 24% identical to YscD of Y. enterocolitica. This is followed by an ORF with coding capacity for a 9.3 kDa protein, 34% identical to YscE of Y. enterocolitica. Therefore, this gene is designated ssaE. A sequence of 263 bp separates ssaE and a set of nine genes, several of which encode proteins with sequence similarity to secreted effector proteins or their chaperones from other pathogens. These genes are separated by short intergenic regions or have overlapping reading frames and it is likely that some are co-transcribed and translationally coupled. Therefore, the genes with similarity to those encoding chaperones were designated sscA and sscB, and the others sseA-E. The amino acid sequence deduced from sscA shows 26% identity/49% similarity over 158 amino acid residues to SycD, the product of IcrH of Y. pseudotuberculosis which acts as a secretion-specific chaperone for YopB and YopD (Wattiau et al., 1994). The amino acid sequence deduced from sscB shows 23% identity/36% similarity over 98 amino acid residues to Ippi of Shigella flexneri. IppI is a chaperone for S. flexneri invasion proteins (Ipas) (Baundry et al., 1988). As is the case for the secretion chaperones SycD, Ippl and SicA (Kaniga et al., 1995), SscB has an acidic pI (Table 3), whereas SscA has an unusually high pI of 8.8. SseB is 25% identical/47% similar to EspA of EPEC over the entire length of the 192 amino acid residue protein (FIG. 2b). SseD is 27% identical/51% similar to EspB of EPEC over 166 amino acid residues. SseC has sequence similarity to a class of effector proteins involved in the translocation of other effectors into the target host cell. These include YopB of Y. enterocolitica, EspD of EPEC and PepB of Pseudomonas aerugunosa. SseC is approximately 24% identical/48% similar to both EspD of EPEC and YopB of Y. enterocolitica (FIG. 2a). EspD and YopB have two hydrophobic domains that are predicted to insert into target cell membranes (Pallen et al., 1997). SseC contains three hydrophobic regions that could represent membrane-spanning domains. Other features of these predicted effector proteins are shown in Table 1. Using the TMpredict program (Hofmann and Stoffel, 1993), transmembrane helices are predicted for all the effector proteins apart from SseA which is very hydrophilic. Alignments of SseC to homologs in other pathogens are shown in FIG. 2b. Conserved amino acids are mainly clustered in the central, more hydrophobic portion of the protein, but unlike YopB, there is no significant similarity to the RTX family of toxins. The conserved residues in SseD are present mainly in the N-terminal half of the protein. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of sseABCDEF with entries in the PROSITE database did not reveal the presence of any characteristic protein motifs. We subjected the predicted amino acid sequences of the sse genes to searches using the programs COIL and MULTICOIL as described by Pallen et al. (1997). SseA and SseD are predicted to have one trimeric coil each, and SseC is predicted to have two trimeric coils (Table 3). Since EspB and EspD are predicted to have one and two trimeric coils, respectively (Pallen et al., 1997), this provides further evidence that these proteins are functionally related. TABLE 3 Features of predicted proteins. Protein M_(r) (kDa) pI Tm predictions Predicted coils SseA 12.5 9.3 hydrophilic at least one (trimer) SseB 21.5 4.7 one transmembrane helix none SseC 52.8 6.3 three transmembrane at least two (trimers) helices SseD 20.6 4.8 three transmembrane at least one (trimer) helices SseE 16.3 9.7 one transmembrane helix none SscA 18.1 8.8 hydrophilic none SscB 16.4 4.7 hydrophilic none

[0090] Expression of SPI2 Genes

[0091] Generation of Antibodies Against Recombinant SPI2 Proteins

[0092] In order to monitor the expression of the SPI2 genes sseB, sscA and ssaP, a Western blot analysis of total bacterial cells with polyclonal antibodies raised against recombinant SPI2 proteins SseB, SscA, and SsaP was performed.

[0093] Protein gel electrophoresis and Western blotting were performed as described elsewhere (Laemmli, 1970 and Sambrook et al., 1989). Plasmids for the expression of recombinant SPI2 protein were constructed by cloning the individual SPI2 genes in plasmids pQE30, pQE31 or pQE32 (Qiagen, Hilden) in order to generate in-frame fusion to the N-terminal 6His tag. Recombinant SPI2 genes were expressed in E. coli M 5 [pREP] (Qiagen) and purified by metal chelating chromotography according to recommendations of the manufacturer (Qiagen). For immunisation, about 1 mg of recombinant SPI2 proteins were emulsified with complete and incomplete Freund's adjuvant for primary and booster immunizations, respectively. Rabbits were immunized subcutaneously according to standard protocols (Harlow and Lane, 1988). SPI2 proteins were detected with antisera raised against recombinant SPI2 proteins after electrophoretical separation of proteins from total cells and transfered onto a nitrocellulose membrane (Schleicher and Schuell) using a ‘Semi-Dry’ blotting device (Bio-Rad) according to the manufacturers manual. Bound antibody was visualized using a secondary antibody-alkaline phosphatase conjugate according to standard protocols (Harlow and Lane).

[0094] Generation of Reporter Gene Fusions:

[0095] Fusions of the reporter gene firefly luciferase (luc) to various genes in SPI2 were obtained using the suicide vectors pLB02 and pGPL01 (Gunn and Miller, 1996), which were kindly provided by Drs. Gunn and Miller (Seattle).

[0096] For the generation of a fusion to ssaB, a 831 bp EcoRV fragment of p2-2 was subcloned in EcoRV digested pSK⁺. For the generation of a transcriptional fusion to sseA, a 1060 bp SmaI/HincII fragment of p5-4 was subcloned in pSK⁺. The inserts of the resulting constructs were recovered as a EcoRI/KpnI fragment and ligated with EcoRI/KpnI digested reporter vectors pGPL01 and pLB02. For the generation of a transcriptional fusion to ssaJ, a 3 kb SmaI/KpnI fragment of p5-2 was directly subcloned in pGPL01 and pLB02.

[0097] Constructs with transcriptional fusions of SPI2 genes to luc were than integrated into the chromosome of S. typhimurium by mating between E. coli S17-1 λpir harbouring the respective construct and a spontaneous mutant of S. typhimurium resistant to 100 μg×ml⁻¹ nalidixic acid and selection for exconjugants resistant to carbenicillin and nalidixic acid. The targeted integration in SPI2 (for constructs using pGLP01) or the zch region (for constructs using pLB02) was confirmed by Southernanalysis. Fusions were then moved into a mouse-passaged strain of S. typhimurium NCTC12023 by P22 transduction according to standard procedures (Maloy et al., 1996).

[0098] Assay of Reporter Genes

[0099] β-galactosidase activities of reporter gene fusions were determined according to standard procedures (Miller, 1992).

[0100] Bacterial strains harbouring firefly luciferase fusions to SPI2 genes (strain MvP127, sseA::luc, strain MvP131, ssaB::luc, strain MvP266, ssaH::luc) were grown in medium with various Mg²⁺ concentrations. The luciferase activity of aliquots of the cultures was determined using the Promega (Heidelberg) luciferase assay kit or custom made reagents accordingly. Briefly, bacteria were pelleted by centrifugation for 5 min. at 20000×g at 4° C. and resuspended in lysis buffer (100 mM KHPO₄, pH 7.8, 2 mM EDTA, 1% Triton X-100, 5 mg×ml⁻¹ bovine serum albumin, 1 mM DTT, 5 mg×ml⁻¹ lysozyme). Lysates were incubated for 15 min at room temperature with repeated agitation and subjected to a freeze/thaw cycle. Aliquots of the lysates (25 μl) were transferred to microtiter plates (MicroFLUOR, Dynatech) and immediately assayed after addition of 50 μl luciferase reagent (20 mM Tricine-HCl, pH 7.8, 1.07 mM (MgCO₃)₄Mg(OH)₂, 100 μM EDTA, 33.3 mM DTT, 270 μM_Li₃-coenzyme A, 470 μM D(−)-luciferin, 530 μM Mg-ATP) for photon emission using the TriLux MicroBeta luminometer (Wallac, Turku). All assays were done in triplicates and repeated on independent occasions.

[0101] Expression of SPI2 Genes such as ssaB and ssaH is Induced by low Mg²⁺ Concentrations of the Growth Medium

[0102]S. typhimurium wild-type strain and strains harbouring luc reporter-gene fusions to ssaB (strain MvP131) and to ssaH (strain MvP266) were grown to mid-log phase (OD at 600 nm of about 0.5) in minimal media containing high amounts of Mg²⁺ (10 mM MgCl₂). This medium is referred to as medium G. Bacteria were recovered by centrifugation, washed three times in minimal medium containing 8 μM Mg²⁺. This medium is referred to as medium F. Bacteria were resuspended in medium F or medium G and growth at 37° C. was continued. Aliquots of the cultures of strains MvP131 and MvP266 were withdrawn at the several different time points indicated and subjected to analysis of luciferase activity. Aliquots of the wild-type strain were withdrawn at the same time points. Protein from total bacterial cells was separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to nicrocellulose membranes. These blots were incubated with antibodies raised against recombinant SsaP and SscA protein in order to detect proteins synthesized after the magnesium concentration shift in the magnesium concentration. After shifting bacteria from a growth medium with high amounts of Mg²⁺ to a medium with limiting amounts of Mg²⁺, the expression of SPI2 genes was highly induced. This induction can be monitored by using the reporter gene luc fused into different positions of SPI2. Furthermore, proteins synthesized after induction of SPI2 were detected by Western Blots. However, even in the presence of high amounts of Mg²⁺, a low level of expression of SPI2 genes was observed.

[0103] Expression of SPI2 Genes Such as sseA and ssaB is Modulated by PhoP/PhoQ Regulation

[0104] No expression of sseb or sscA was observed during growth in various rich media, or cell culture media with or without serum. However, low amount of SsaP were detected after growth in LB or other rich media such as brain hart infusion (BHI). Growth in minimal medium containing less than 30 μM Mg²⁺ induces the expression of SPI2 genes. Such effect of the Mg²⁺ concentration has so far only been observed for PhoP/PhoQ-regulated genes. This observation is in contrast to a previous report by Valdivia and Falkow (1997) who postulated that SPI2 gene expression is independent of PhoP/PhoQ. However, in a PhoP^(c) (constitutive) strain background (CSO22, Miller et al., 1989) expression of SPI2 genes was not constitutive but still dependent on the Mg²⁺ concentration of the medium. This indicates that SPI2 gene expression is modulated by PhoP/PhoQ, but that further regulatory elements such as SsrA/B are needed.

[0105] DNA Cloning and Sequencing

[0106] DNA preparations and genetic manipulations were carried out according to standard protocols (Sambrook et al, 1989). Plasmid DNA transformation of bacterial cells was performed by electroporation (O'Callaghan and Charbit, 1990).

[0107] Clones harbouring fragments of SPI2 were identified from a library of genomic DNA of S. typhimurium in λ 1059 which has been described previously (Shea et al., 1996). The sse and ssc genes were subcloned from clone λ5 on a 5.7 kb EcoRI fragment (p5-2) and a 5.8 kb HindIII fragment (p5-4) in pBluescriptKS+ as indicated in FIG. 1 and Table 1.

[0108] DNA sequencing was performed using a primer-walking strategy. The dideoxy method (Sanger et al., 1977) was applied using the Pharmacia T7 sequencing system for manual sequencing and the dye terminator chemistry for automatic analysis on a ABI377 sequencing instrument. Assembly of contigs from DNA sequences was performed by means of AssemblyLign and MacVector software (Oxford Molecular, Oxford). For further sequence analyses, programs of the GCG package version 8 (Devereux et al., 1984) were used on the HGMP network.

[0109] Construction of Non-Polar Mutations

[0110] The construction of non-polar mutations in sseC (MvP103), sseD (MvP101) and sseE (MvP102) are described below. All chromosomal modifications were confirmed by PCR and Southern hybridization analysis (Southern, 1975, J. Mol. Biol. 98: 503-517).

[0111] Mutant MvP103, sseC. A 2.6 kb fragment was recovered after BamHI and ClaI digestion of p5-2 and subcloned in BamHI/C/al-digested pBluescript II KS+. The resulting construct termed p5-50 was digested by HindIII, blunt ended using the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase and ligated to the aphT cassette. A 900 bp HincII fragment of pSB315 containing an aminoglycoside 3′-phosphotransferase gene (apht) from which the transcriptional terminator had been removed (Galán et al., 1992) was ligated in the same orientation into the blunted-ended HindIII site of plasmid p5-50. After transformation of E. coli XL-1 Blue and selection for resistance against kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each) one clone has been chosen and the harbouring plasmid isolated. This plasmid was termed p5-51 and its identity confirmed by restriction analysis. It was further digested with SalI and XbaI and the insert of 3.5 kb was ligated to SalI/XbaI-digested pGP704. This plasmid was electroporated into E. coli CC118 λpir and the transformants selected for resistance to kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each). As done before, one clone was chosen, its plasmid with the according DNA fragment in pGP704, termed p5-53, isolated and confirmed by restriction analysis. Plasmid p5-53 was electroporated into E. coli S17-1 λpir and transferred into S. typhimurium NCTC12023 (resistant to nalidixic acid, 100 μg/ml) by conjugation as has been described previously (de Lorenzo and Timmis, 1994). Exconjugants in which the sseC gene had been replaced by the cloned gene disrupted by insertion of the aphT cassette were selected by resistance to kanamycin and nalidixic acid (100 μg/ml). The resulting exconjugants were finally tested for a lactose-negative phenotype and their sensitivity to carbenicillin. Selected clones were further examined by Southernblot analysis. In order to exclude possible mutations which have been acquired during the cloning procedure the mutated sseC allele was transferred into a fresh Salmonella background by P22 transduction (described by Maloy et al., 1996). The resulting Salmonella strain MvP103 was examined for the presence of the resistance cassette within the sseC gene by the use of PCR. Amplification was performed by using the primers E25 (5′-GAAATCCCGCAGAAATG-3′) and E28 (5′-AAGGCGATAATATAAAC-3′). The resulting fragment had a size of 1.6 kb for S. typhimurium wild-type and 2.5 kb for strain MvP103.

[0112] For complementation of non-polar mutations in sseC, the corresponding genes were amplified by PCR from genomic DNA using a series of primers corresponding to the region 5′ of the putative start codons and to the 3′ ends of the genes. These primers introduced BamHI restriction sites at the termini of the amplified genes. After digestion with BamHI, the genes were ligated to BamHI-digested pACYC184 (Chang and Cohen, 1978) and transferred into E. coli DH5α. The orientation of the insert was determined by PCR, and in addition, DNA sequencing was performed to confirm the orientation and the correct DNA sequence of the inserts. Plasmids with inserts in the same transcriptional orientation as the Tetr gene of pACYC184 were selected for complementation studies and electroporated into the S. typhimurium strains harbouring corresponding non-polar mutations.

[0113] Mutant MvP101, sseD. A 3.0 kb fragment was recovered after PstI and EcoRI digestion of p5-2 and subcloned in PstI/EcoRI-digested pUC18 The resulting construct termed p5-30 was digested by EcoRV and treated with alkaline phosphatase. The aphT cassette was isolated as described above and ligated to the linearized plasmid p5-30 in the same orientation in the unique EcoRV site. After transformation of E. coli XL-1 Blue and selection against kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each) one clone has been chosen and the harbouring plasmid isolated. This plasmid was termed p5-31 and its identity confirmed by restriction analysis. p5-31 was further digested with SphI and EcoRI, a 4.0 kb fragment isolated and ligated to SphI/EcoRI-digested pGP704. This plasmid was electroporated into E. coli CC118 λpir and transformants selected to kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each). As done before, one clone was chosen, its plasmid with the according DNA fragment in pGP704, termed p5-33, isolated and confirmed by restriction analysis. Plasmid p5-33 was electroporated into E. coli S17-1 λpir and transferred into S. typhimurium NCTC12023 (resistant to nalidixic acid) by conjugation as has been described previously (de Lorenzo and Timmis, 1994). Exconjugants in which the sseD gene had been replaced by the cloned gene disrupted by insertion of the aphT cassette were selected by resistance to kanamycin and nalidixic acid (100 μg/ml) The resulting exconjugants were finally tested for a lactose-negative phenotype and their sensitivity to carbenicillin. Selected clones were further examined by Southernblot analysis. In order to exclude possible mutations which might have been accumulated during the cloning procedure the mutated sseD allele was transferred into a fresh Salmonella background by P22 transduction (described by Maloy et al., 1996). The resulting Salmonella strain MvP101 was examined for the presence of the resistance cassette within the sseD gene by the use of PCR. Amplification was performed by using the primers E6 (5′-AGAGATGTATTAGATAC-3′) and E28 (5′-AAGGCGATAATATAAAC-3′). The resulting fragment had a size of 0.8 kb for S. typhimurium wild-type was used and 1.7 kb in the case of strain MvP101.

[0114] Mutant MvP102, deletion of parts of sseE and sscB. A 4.5 kb fragment was recovered after SstI and HindIII digestion of p5-2 and subcloned in SstI/HindIII-digested pKS+. The resulting construct termed p5-40 was digested by SmaI, digested with alkaline phospatase and ligated to the aphT cassette in the same orientation into the unique SmaI site created in the sseE/sseB deletion plasmid p5-40 as described above. After transformation of E. coli XL-1 Blue and selection against kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each) one clone was chosen and the harbouring plasmid isolated. This plasmid was termed p5-41 and its identity confirmed via restriction analysis. It was further digested with KpnI and SstI and the insert was ligated to KpnI/SstI-digested pNQ705. This plasmid was electroporated into E. coli CC118 λpir and transformed bacteria selected to kanamycin and chloramphenicol (50 μg/ml each). As done before, one clone was chosen, its plasmid with the according DNA fragment in pNQ705, termed p5-43, isolated and confirmed by restriction analysis. The resulting plasmid was used to transfer the mutated gene onto the Salmonella chromosome as described above. Resulting clones have been further examined by Southernblot analysis. To exclude possible mutations which might have been acquired during the cloning procedure the mutated sseE/sscB allele was transferred into a fresh Salmonella background by P22 transduction (described by Maloy et al., 1996). The resulting Salmonella strain MvP102 was examined for the presence of the resistance cassette within the sseE/sseB gene by the use of PCR. Amplification was performed by using the primers E6 (5′-AGAGATGTATTAGATAC-3′) and E4 (5′-GCAATAAGAGTATCAAC-3′). The resulting fragment had a size of 1.6 kb for S. typhimurium wild-type and a size of 1.9 kb for strain MvP102.

[0115] Construction of Mutant Strains Carrying In-Frame Deletions in sseC, sseD and sscB:

[0116] Based on the observation that a non-polar in sseE did not result in a significant attenuation of virulence in the mouse model (Hensel et al., 1998), the generation of a deletion mutant for the sseE gene is not of interest for the generation of carrier strains.

[0117] Construction of an In-Frame Deletion in sseC, Mutant MvP337

[0118] A deletion of 158 bp between codon 264 and 422 of sseC was generated. Plasmid p5-2 was digested by ClaI and the larger fragment containing the vector portion was recovered and self-ligated to generate p5-60. Plasmid p5-60 was linearized by digestion with HindIII, which cuts once within the sseC gene. Primers sseC-del-1 (5′-GCT AAG CTT CGG CTC AAA TTG TTT GGA AAA C-3′) and sseE-del-2 (5′-GCT AAG CTT AGA GAT GTA TTA GAT ACC-3′) were designed to introduce HindIII sites. PCR was performed using linearized p5-60 as template DNA. The TaqPlus polymerase (Stratagene) was used according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Reactions of 100 μl volume were set up using 10 μl of 10× TaqPlus Precision buffer containing magnesium chloride, 0.8 μl of 100 mM dNTPs, 250 ng DNA template (linearized p5-8), 250 ng of each primer and 5 U of TaqPlus DNA polymerase. PCR was carried out for 35 cycles of: 95° C. for 1 minute, 60° C. for 1 minute, 72° C. for 6 minutes. Then a final step of 72° C. for 10 minutes was added. 10 μl of the PCR reaction were analyzed. A product of the expected size was recovered, digested by HindIII, self-ligated, and the ligation mixture was used to transform E. coli DH5α to resistance to carbenicillin. Plasmids were isolated from transformants and the integrity of the insert and the deletion was analyzed by restriction digestion and DNA sequencing. The insert of a confirmed construct was isolated after digestion with XbaI and KpnI and ligated to XbaI/KpnI-digested vector pKAS32. The resulting construct was used to transform E. coli S17-1 λpir to resistance to carbenicillin, and conjugational transfer of the plasmid to S. typhimurium (NaI^(R), Strep^(R)) was performed according to standard procedures (de Lorenzo and Timmis, 1994). Exconjugants that had integrated the suicide plasmid by homologous recombination were selected by resistance to nalidixic acid and carbenicillin, and screened for sensitivity to streptomycin. Such clones were grown in LB to OD600 of about 0.5 and aliquots were plated on LB containing 250 μg/ml streptomycin to select for colonies which had lost the integrated plasmid and undergone allelic exchange. Clones resistant to streptomycin but sensitive to carbenicillin were used for further analysis. Screening of mutants with a deletion within the sseC locus was performed by PCR using primers sseC-For (5′-ATT GGA TCC GCA AGC GTC CAG AA-3′) and sseC-Rev (5-TAT GGA TCC TCA GAT TAA GCG CG-3′). Amplification of DNA from clones containing the wild-type sseC allele resulted in a PCR product of 1520 bp, use of DNA from clones harbouring a sseC allele with an internal deletion resulted in a PCR product of 1050 bp. The integrity of clones harbouring the sseC deletion was further confirmed by Southern analysis of the sseC locus. Finally, the sseC locus containing the internal in-frame deletion was moved into a fresh strain background of S. typhimurium by P22 transduction (Maloy et al., 1996) and the resulting strain was designated MvP 337.

[0119] Construction of an In-Frame Deletion in sseD, Mutant Strain MvP338

[0120] A deletion of 116 bp between codon 26 and 142 of sseD was generated. Plasmid p5-2 was digested by HindIII/PstI and a fragment of 20.1 kb was isolated and subcloned in HindIII/PstI-digested vector pBluescript SK+. The resulting construct was designated p5-8. p5-8 was linearized by digestion with EcoRV, which cuts twice within the sseD gene. Primers sseD-del-1 (5′-ATA GAA TTC GGA GGG AGA TGG AGT GGA AG-3′) and sseD-del-2 (5′-ATA GAA TTC GAA GAT AAA GCG ATT GCC GAC-3′) were designed to introduce EcoRI sites. PCR was performed using linearized p5-8 as template DNA. The TaqPlus polymerase (Stratagene) was used according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Reactions of 100 μl volume were set up using 10 μl of 10× TaqPlus Precision buffer containing magnesium chloride, 0.8 μl of 100 mM dNTPs, 250 ng DNA template (linearized p5-8), 250 ng of each primer and 5 U of TaqPlus DNA polymerase PCR was carried out for 35 cycles of: 95° C. for 1 minute, 60° C. for 1 minute, 72° C. for 5 minutes. Then a final step of 72° C. for 10 minutes was added. 10 μl of the PCR reaction were analyzed. A product of the expected size was recovered, digested by EcoRI, self-ligated, and the ligation mixture was used to transform E. coli DH5α to resistance to carbenicillin. Plasmids were isolated from transformants and the integrity of the insert and the deletion was analyzed by restriction mapping and DNA sequencing. The insert of a confirmed construct was isolated after digestion with XbaI and KpnI and ligated to XbaI/KpnI-digested vector pKAS32. The resulting construct was used to transform E. coli S17-1 λpir to resistance to carbenicillin, and conjugational transfer of the plasmid to S. typhimurium (Nal^(R), Strep^(R)) was performed according to standard procedures (de Lorenzo and Timmis, 1994). Exconjugants that had integrated the suicide plasmid by homologous recombination were selected by resistance to nalidixic acid and carbenicillin, and screened for sensitivity to streptomycin. Such clones were grown in LB to OD600 of about 0.5 and aliquots were plated on LB containing 250 μg/ml streptomycin to select for colonies which had lost the integrated plasmid and undergone allelic exchange. Clones resistant to streptomycin but sensitive to carbenicillin were used for further analysis. Screening of mutants with a deletion within the sseD locus was performed by PCR using primers sseD-For (5′-GAA GGA TCC ACT CCA TCT CCC TC-3′) and sseD-Rev (5-GAA GGA TCC ATT TGC TCT ATT TCT TGC-3′). Amplification of DNA from clones containing the wild-type sseD allele resulted in a PCR product of 560 bp, use of DNA from clones harbouring a sseD allele with an internal deletion resulted in a PCR product of 220 bp. The integrity of clones harbouring the sseD deletion was further confirmed by Southernanalysis of the sseD locus. Finally, the sseD locus containing the internal in-frame deletion was moved into a fresh strain background of S. typhimurium by P22 transduction (Maloy et al., 1996) and the resulting strain was designated MvP338.

[0121] Construction of an In-Frame Deletion in sscB, Mutant Strain MvP339

[0122] A deletion of 128 bp between codon 32 and 160 of sscB was generated. A 3 kb BglII fragment of plasmid p5-2 was ligated into the BamHI site of pBluescript KS+ to generate plasmid p5-70. Plasmid p5-70 was linearized by digestion with NcoI, which cuts once within the sscB gene. Primers sscB-del-1 (5′-ATG GGA TCC GAG ATT CGC CAG AAT GCG CAA-3′) and sscB-del-2 (5′-ATG GGA TCC ACT GGC ATA AAC GGT TTC CGG-3′) were designed to introduce BamHI sites. PCR was performed using linearized p5-70 as template DNA. The TaqPlus polymerase (Stratagene) was used according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Reactions of 100 μl/volume were set up using 10 μl of 10× TaqPlus Precision buffer containing magnesium chloride, 0.8 μl of 100 mM dNTPs, 250 ng DNA template (linearized p5-70), 250 ng of each primer and 5 U of TaqPlus DNA polymerase. PCR was carried out for 35 cycles of: 95° C. for 1 minute, 60° C. for 1 minute, 72° C. for 6 minutes. Then a final step of 72° C. for 10 minutes was added. 10 μl of the PCR reaction were analyzed. A product of the expected size was recovered, digested by BamHI, self-ligated, and the ligation mixture was used to transform E. coli DH5α to resistance to carbenicillin. Plasmids were isolated from transformants and the integrity of the insert and the deletion was analyzed by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing. The insert of a confirmed construct was isolated after digestion with XbaI and KpnI and ligated to XbaI/KpnI-digested vector pKAS32. The resulting construct was used to transform E. coli S17-1 λpir to resistance to carbenicillin, and conjugational transfer of the plasmid to S. typhimurium (Nal^(R), Strep^(R)) was performed according to standard procedures (de Lorenzo and Timmis, 1994). Exconjugants that had integrated the suicide plasmid by homologous recombination were selected by resistance to nalidixic acid and carbenicillin, and screened for sensitivity to streptomycin. Such clones were grown in LB to OD600 of about 0.5 and aliquots were plated on LB containing 250 μg/ml streptomycin to select for colonies which had lost the integrated plasmid and undergone allelic exchange. Clones resistant to streptomycin but sensitive to carbenicillin were used for further analysis. Screening of mutants with a deletion within the sseC locus was performed by PCR using primers sscB-For (5′-ATT GGA TCC TGA CGT AAA TCA TTA TCA-3′) and sscB-Rev (5-ATT GGA TCC TTA AGC AAT AAG TGA ATC-3′). Amplification of DNA from clones containing the wild-type sscB allele resulted in a PCR product of 480 bp, use of DNA from clones harbouring a sscB allele with an internal deletion resulted in a PCR product of 100 bp. The integrity of clones harbouring the sseC deletion was further confirmed by Southernanalysis of the sscB locus. Finally, the sscB locus containing the internal in-frame deletion was moved into a fresh strain background of S. typhimurium by P22 transduction (Maloy et al., 1996) and the resulting strain was designated MvP339.

[0123] Construction of a Deletion Mutation in the sseC Gene

[0124] In a further approach the complete sequence of the chromosomal sseC gene was deleted by allelic replacement with a deleted copy of the gene. The deletion was constructed in a suicide plasmid (pCVD442 (Donnenberg et al., 1991). First, two DNA fragments flanking the sseC gene (fragment A, carrying artificial SalI and XbaI sites at its 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively; and fragment B, carrying artificial XbaI and SacI sites at its 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively) were amplified by PCR. The oligonucleotides used for PCR were: 1.) sseDelfor1 GCTGTCGACTTGTAGTGAGTGAGCAAG (3′ nucleotide corresponds to bp 941 in included sequence: FIG. 21A); 2.) sseCDelrev2 GGATCTAGATTTTAGCTCCTGTCAGAAAG (3′ nucleotide corresponds to bp 2585 in included sequence, oligo binds to reverse strand); 3.) sseCDelfor2 GGATCTAGATCTGAGGATAAAAATATGG (3′ nucleotide corresponds to bp 4078 in included sequence); 4.) sseDelrev1 GCTGAGCTCTGCCGCTGACGGAATATG (3′ nucleotide corresponds to bp 5592 in included sequence, oligo binds to reverse strand). The resulting PCR fragments were fused together via the XbaI site. The resulting fragment was cut with SalI and SacI and cloned into pCVD442 cut with SalI and SacI. The resulting plasmid was introduced into S. typhimurium NCTC12023 by conjugation and chromosomal integrants of the plasmid into the sseC locus were selected for by the plasmid-encoded ampicillin resistance marker. In a second step, clones which had lost the plasmid were screened for by loss of ampicillin resistance. The resulting clones were tested for chromosomal deletion of the sseC gene by PCR, and deletion of a 1455 bp fragment, comprising the entire sseC open reading frame, was confirmed. This ΔsseC mutant strain was named III-57ΔsseC.

[0125] Construction of a sseC-aroA Double Mutant

[0126] In order to construct a double mutant which can serve as a prototype for a live attenuated vaccine, the sseC:aphT(Km′) marker from MvP103 was transferred by P22 phage transduction into S. typhimurium SL7207 (hisG46 DEL407 [aroA544:Tn10], Tc^(R)) a strain carrying a stable deletion in the aroA gene.

Example 3 Invasion and Intracellular Growth in Tissue Culture

[0127] Intramacrophage Replication of Mutant Strains

[0128] Several strains which are defective in their ability to replicate inside macrophages and macrophage-like cell lines have been tested, as macrophage survival and replication are thought to represent an important aspect of Salmonella pathogenesis in vivo (Fields et al., 1986). It has been reported previously that a number of SPI2 mutant strains were not defective for survival or replication within RAW macrophages (Hensel et al., 1997b) but subsequent experiments have revealed that some SPI2 mutants can be shown to have a replication defect if aerated stationary phase bacterial cultures opsonized with normal mouse serum are used (see also accompanying paper: Cirillo et al., 1998). The increase in cfu for different strains in RAW macrophages over a 16 h period is shown in FIG. 3. Replication defects were observed for strains carrying mutations in ssaV (encoding a component of the secretion apparatus), sseB and sseC and to a lesser extent for strains carrying mutations in sseE. Partial complementation of this defect was achieved with strains harbouring plasmids carrying functional copies of sseb and sseC, HH103 and MvP103[psseC], respectively. The ability of SPI2 mutant strains to replicate inside the J774.1 macrophage cell line (FIG. 4A) and in periodate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from C3H/HeN mice (FIG. 4B) has also been tested. Similar replication defects of S. typhimurium carrying transposon or non-polar mutations in SPI2 genes were observed, regardless of the phagocyte cell-type examined, although the peritoneal elicited cells had superior antimicrobial activity compared to either cell line.

[0129] Macrophage Survival Assays

[0130] RAW 264.7 cells (ECACC 91062702), a murine macrophage-like cell line, were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing 10%_(foetal) calf serum (FCS) and 2 mM glutamine at 37° C. in 5% CO₂ . S. typhimurium strains were grown in LB to stationary phase and diluted to an OD₆₀₀ of 0.1 and opsonized for 20 min in DMEM containing 10% normal mouse serum. Bacteria were then centrifuged onto macrophages seeded in 24 well tissue culture plates at a multiplicity of infection of approximately 1:10 and incubated for 30 min. Following infection, the macrophages were washed twice with PBS to remove extracellular bacteria and incubated for 90 min (2h post-infection) or 16 h in medium containing gentamicin (12 μg/ml). Infected macrophages were washed twice with PBS and lysed with 1% Triton X-100 for 10 min and appropriate aliquots and dilutions were plated onto LB agar to enumerate cfu.

[0131] Survival of opsonized S. typhimurium strains in J774.1 cells (Ralph et al., 1975) or C3H/HeN murine peritoneal exudate cells (from Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, Mass.) was determined essentially as described by DeGroote et al. (1997), but without the addition of interferon-γ. Briefly, peritoneal cells harvested in PBS with heat-inactivated 10%_(foetal) calf serum 4 days after intraperitoneal injection of 5 mM sodium periodate (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) were plated in 96-well flat-bottomed microtiter plates (Becton-Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J.) and allowed to adhere for 2 h. Non-adherent cells were flushed out with prewarmed medium containing 10% heat-inactivated _(foetal) calf serum. In previous studies, we have established that >95% of the cells remaining after this procedure are macrophages. S. typhimurium from aerated overnight cultures was opsonized with normal mouse serum and centrifuged onto adherent cells at an effector to target ratio of 1:10. The bacteria were allowed to internalize for 15 min, and washed with medium containing 6 μg/ml gentamicin to kill extracellular bacteria. At 0 h and 20 h, cells were lysed with PBS containing 0.5% deoxycholate (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.), with plating of serial dilutions to enumerate colony-forming units.

Example 4 Evaluation of Safety in the S. typhimurium Mouse Model of Salmonellosis

[0132] Virulence Tests with Strains Carrying Non-Polar Mutations

[0133] DNA sequence analysis suggested that the sse genes might encode effector proteins of the secretion system, but apart from a possible polar effect from a transposon insertion in sscA no strains carrying mutations in these genes were recovered in the original STM screen for S. typhimurium virulence genes using mTn5 mutagenesis (Hensel et al., 1995), and their role in virulence was unclear. To address this question, strains carrying non-polar mutations in sseC, sseD and sseEsscB (FIG. 1) have been constructed and subjected to virulence tests. Table 4 shows that all mice inoculated with strains carrying mutations sseC and sseD survived a dose of 1×10⁴ cfu, three orders of magnitude greater than the LD₅₀ of the wild-type strain, which is less than 10 cfu when the inoculum is administered by the i.p. route (Buchmeier et al., 1993; Shea et al, 1996). The same strains containing a plasmid carrying the corresponding wild-type allele were also inoculated into mice at a dose of 1×10⁴ cfu. No mice survived these infections, which shows that each mutation can be complemented by the presence of a functional copy of each gene, and that each of these genes plays an important role in Salmonella virulence. Strains carrying non-polar mutations in sseEsscB caused lethal infections when approximately 1×10⁴ cells of each strain were inoculated into mice by the i.p. route (Table 4) and were analyzed in more detail by a competition assay with the wild-type strain in mixed infections (five mice/test) to determine if they were attenuated in virulence. The competitive index, defined as the output ratio of mutant to wild-type bacteria, divided by the input ratio of mutant to wild-type bacteria, shows that the sseEsscB mutant was not significantly different to that of a fully virulent strain carrying an antibiotic resistance marker, which implies that this gene does not play a significant role in systemic Salmonella infection of the mouse. TABLE 4 Virulence of S. typhimurium strains in mice. Mouse Mouse survival survival after after inoculation^(a) inoculation^(a) with with mutant + bacterial complementing Competitive Strain Genotype strain plasmid index in vivo NCTC120 wild-type 0/5 n.d.   0.98^(b) 23 MvP101 ΔsseD::aphT 5/5 n.d. >0.01 MvP102 ΔsseEsscB:: 4/4 n.d.   0.79 aphT MvP103 sseC::aphT 5/5 0/5 >0.01 (oral) >0.01 (i.p.)

Example 5 Vaccination with the sseC::aphT, and AsseD::aphT mutant S. typhimurium Strains MvP103 and MvP101

[0134] Strains Carrying Non-Polar Mutations as Live Vaccine Carriers

[0135] To confirm the suitability of the MvP101 and MvP103 mutants as live vaccine carriers their level of attenuation was evaluated by determining the LD₅₀ after oral inoculation in mice. Groups of 10 mice were fed with serial dilutions of either MvP110, MvP103 or the wild-type parental strain NCTCNCTC12023 and dead animals were recorded within a period of 10 days postinfection. The obtained results demonstrated that both mutants are highly attenuated when given orally to BALB/c mice (LD₅₀ above 10⁹) when compared with the parental strain (LD₅₀=6.9×10⁵ CFU). After intraperitoneal inoculuation the LD₅₀ of S. typhimurium NCTC12023 wild-type in BALB/c is 6 bacteria, and the LD₅₀ of MvP103 in BALB/c is 2.77×10⁶ after intraperitoneal inoculation. The mutation can be complemented by psseC, but no LD50 determination for the complemented mutant strain was performed. LD₅₀ of MvP101 in BALB/c is 3.54×10⁶ after intraperitoneal inoculation. A partial complementation by plasmid p5-K1 was possible. An intraperitoneal LD₅₀ for MvP101 [p5-K1] of 8.45×10² was determined. (Description of p5-K1: a 3.2 kb PstI fragment of p5-2 containing sseC′sseDsseEsscBsseF′ was subcloned in low copy number cloning vector pWSK29).

[0136] Determination of the LD₅₀

[0137] Doses ranging from 10⁵ to 10⁹ CFU of either S. typhimurium NCTCNCTC12023 (wild-type) or the mutants MvP103 and MvP101 were orally inoculated into groups of 10 mice and survival was recorded over 10 days.

[0138] LD₅₀ of S typhimurium wild-type and mutant strains MvP101 and MvP103 after intraperitoneal infection was determined by inoculation of doses ranging from 10¹ to 10⁷ CFU into groups of 5 female BALB/c mice of 6-8 weeks of age. Survival was recorded over a period of three weeks. The LD₅₀ dose of the challenge strains was calculated by the method of Reed and Muench (Reed and Muench, 1938).

[0139] Immunization Protocols

[0140] For vaccination, bacteria were grown overnight until they reach medium log phase. Then, they were harvested by centrifugation (3,000×g) and resuspended in 5% sodium bicarbonate. Mice were immunized four times at 15 day intervals by gently feeding them with the bacterial suspension (10⁹ CFU/mouse) in a volume of approximately 30 pi. Control mice were vaccinated with the carrier, lacking plasmid.

[0141] Cytotoxicity Assay

[0142] Spleen cells were obtained from mice 14 days after the last immunization and 2×10⁶ effector cells were restimulated in vitro for 5 days in complete medium supplemented with 20 U/ml of rIL-2 and 20 μM of the βGP1 peptide (β-gal p876-884, TPHPARIGL), which encompasses the immunodominant H-2L^(d)-restricted β-gal epitope. After restimulation, the assay was performed using the [³H]-thymidine incorporation method. In brief, 2×10⁶ of P815 cells per ml were labelled with [³H]-thymidine for 4 h in either complete medium or complete medium supplemented with 20 μM of βGP1 peptide and used as target cells. Following washing, 2×10⁵ labelled targets were incubated with serial dilutions of effector cells in 200 μl of complete medium for 4 h at 37° C. Cells were harvested and specific lysis was determined as follows: [(retained c.p.m. in the absence of effectors)−(experimentally retained c.p.m. in the presence of effectors)/retained c.p.m. in the absence of effectors]×100.

Example 6 Evaluation of the Induced Immune Response

[0143] Induction of Mucosal Immune Responses After Oral Vaccination

[0144] To achieve protection against mucosal pathogens using live Salmonella carriers, elicitation of an efficient mucosal response is highly desirable. Therefore, the presence of β-gal-specific antibodies in intestinal washes from mice immunized with either MvP101, MvP103 or SL7207 carrying pAH97 was investigated 52 days after immunization. As shown in FIG. 5., immunization with all three carriers stimulate the production of significant amounts of β-gal-specific IgA and, to a lesser extent, favor the transudation of antigen-specific IgG in the intestinal lumen. No statistically significant differences were observed among the mucosal responses to the different recombinant clones.

[0145] Cellular Immune Responses Triggered After Oral Immunization with sseC and sseD Mutants Expressing β-gal

[0146] To evaluate the efficacy of the antigen-specific T cell responses generated in immunized mice, spleen cells were enriched in CD4+ T cells and restimulated in vitro during four days with β-gal. As shown in FIG. 6, although antigen-specific CD4+-enriched spleen cells were generated after vaccination with the three carriers, MvP103 and MvP101 were significantly more efficient than SL7207 (P 0.05) at triggering specific cellular immune response. In contrast, cells isolated from mice immunized with the carrier alone failed to proliferate in the presence of β-gal.

[0147] To investigate the Th-type of immune response triggered by immunization, the content of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 was measured in the supernatant fluids of restimulated cells. The results demonstrated that a predominant Th1 response pattern was induced in mice immunized with all the carriers. IFN-γ was the only cytokine with significantly increased levels in comparison to those observed in supernatants from spleen cells isolated from mice immunized with plasmidless carriers (FIG. 7). Interestingly, in agreement with the IgG isotype patterns, the levels of IFN-γ detected in supernatants from cells of mice immunized with MvP103 [pAH97] were significantly higher (P 0.05) than those from animals receiving either MvP101 [pAH97] or SL7207 [pAH97] (FIG. 7).

[0148] Antigen-specific antibody responses generated in mice orally immunized with the attenuated S. typhimurium vaccine carriers expressing the model antigen β-gal

[0149] Groups of mice were immunized with the recombinant strains MvP101 [pAH97] and MvP103 [pAH97]. To estimate the efficacy of the prototypes another group was vaccinated with the well-established carrier strain SL7207 [pAH97]. The abilities of the different carriers to induce a systemic humoral response was determined by measuring the titer of β-gal-specific antibodies in the serum of vaccinated mice. As shown in FIG. 8, significant titers of β-gal-specific IgG and IgM antibodies were detected at day 30 in all vaccinated animals. In contrast to the IgM titers which reach a plateau at day 30, the titers of IgG steadily increased until day 52 from immunization when the experiment was concluded. Although all tested carriers exhibit an excellent performance, the MvP103 mutant was the most efficient at inducing anti-β-gal IgG antibodies (P 0.05). No significant levels of β-gal-specific IgA were detected in mice immunized with any of the three recombinant clones (data not shown).

[0150] To determine the subclass distribution of the anti-β-gal IgG, serum samples were analyzed for specific levels of IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3. The results shown in FIG. 9 demonstrate that the main β-gal-specific IgG isotype present in sera of all immunized mice was IgG2, suggesting of a predominant Th1 response. Interestingly, a lower concentration of IgG1 (P 0.05) was observed in mice immunized with MvP103 than in those receiving MvP101 and SL7202, indicating a similar response pattern in animals immunized with the last two carriers.

[0151] Sample Collection

[0152] Serum samples were collected at different time points and monitored for the presence of β-gal-specific antibodies. At day 52 after immunization, intestinal ravages were obtained by flushing the small intestine with 2 ml of PBS supplemented with 50 mM EDTA, 0.1% bovine serum albumin and 0.1 mg/ml of soybean trypsin inhibitor (Sigma). Then, the ravages were centrifuged (10 min at 600×g) to remove debris, supernatants were removed and supplemented with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (10 mM) and NaN₃, and stored at −20° C.

[0153] Antibody Assays

[0154] Antibody titres were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Briefly, 96 well Nunc-Immuno MaxiSorp™ assay plates (Nunc, Roskilde, Denmark) were coated with 50 μl/well β-gal (5 μg/ml) in coating buffer (0.1 M Na₂HPO₄, pH 9.0). After overnight incubation at 4° C., plates were blocked with 10% FCS in PBS for 1 h at 37° C. Serial two-fold dilutions of serum in FCS-PBS were added (100 μl/well) and plates were incubated for 2 h at 37° C. After four washes with PBS-0.05% Tween 20, secondary antibodies were added: biotinylated γ-chain specific goat anti-mouse IgG, μ-chain specific goat anti-mouse IgM, α-chain specific goat anti-mouse IgA antibodies (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) or, to determine IgG subclass, biotin-conjugated rat anti-mouse IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 (Pharmingen) and plates were further incubated for 2 h at 37° C. After four washes, 100 μl of peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin (Pharmingen, St. Diego, Calif.) were added to each well and plates were incubated at room temperature for 1 h. After four washes, reactions were developed using ABTS [2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethybenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] in 0.1 M citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 4.35) containing 0.01% H₂O₂. Endpoint titers were expressed as the reciprocal log₂ of the last dilution which gave an optical density at 405 nm 0.1 unit above the values of the negative controls after a 30 min incubation.

[0155] To determine the concentration of total Ig present in the intestinal ravages, serial dilutions of the corresponding samples were incubated in microtiter plates that had been coated with goat anti-mouse IgG, IgM and IgA as capture antibodies (100 μg/well, Sigma) and serial dilutions of purified mouse IgG, IgM and IgA (Sigma) were used to generate standard curves. Detection of antigen-specific Ig was performed as described above.

[0156] Induction of Antigen-Specific CTL Responses in Mice Orally Immunized with the Carrier Strains Expressing β-Gal

[0157] The elicitation of MHC class I restricted responses are particularly important for protection against many intracellular pathogens and tumors. It has been shown that antigen-specific CD8+ CTL can be generated both in vitro and in vivo after immunization with recombinant Salmonella spp. expressing heterologous antigens. Therefore, we considered it important to determine whether the tested carriers were also able to trigger a β-gal-specific CTL response. Spleen cells were collected from mice vaccinated with either MvP101 [pAH97], MvP103 [pAH97] or SL7207 [pAH97] at day 52 from immunization and restimulated in vitro with βGP1-pulsed syngenic spleen cells for 5 days. As shown in FIG. 10, the spleen cells from mice immunized with either of the three constructs induced significant lysis of βGP1-loaded target cells compared with unloaded controls. The more efficient responses were observed using the carrier strain MvP103. The lysis was mediated by CD8+ T cells since the cytotoxic activity was completely abrogated when CD8+ T effector cells were depleted (data not shown).

[0158] Cytokine Determination

[0159] Culture supernatants were collected from proliferating cells on days 2 and 4, and stored at −70° C. The determination of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ was performed by specific ELISA. In brief, 96-well microtiter plates were coated overnight at 4° C. with purified rat anti-mouse IL-2 mAb (clone JESG-1A12), anti-IL-4 mAb (clone 11B11), anti-IL-5 mAb (clone TRFK5), anti-IL-6 mAb (clone MP5-20F3), anti-IL-10 mAb (clone JES5-2A5), and anti-IFN-γ mAb (clone R4-6A2) (Pharmingen). After three washes, plates were blocked and two-fold dilutions of supernatant fluids were added. A standard curve was generated for each cytokine using recombinant murine IL-2 (rIL-2), rIL-4, rIL-5, rIL-6, rIFN-γ, and rIL-10 (Pharmingen). Plates were further incubated at 4° C. overnight. After washing, 100 μl/well of biotinylated rat anti-mouse IL-2 (clone JES6-5H4), IL-4 (clone BVD6-24G2), IL-5 (clone TRFK4), IL-6 (clone MP5-32C11), IL-10 (clone SXC-1) and INF-γ (clone XMG1.2) monoclonal antibodies were added and incubated for 45 min at RT. After six washes, streptavidin-peroxidase conjugated was added and incubated for 30 min at RT. Finally, the plates were developed using ABTS.

[0160] Depletion of CD8+ Spleen Cells.

[0161] The CD8+ cell subset was depleted using MiniMACS Magnetic Ly-2 Microbeads according to the manufacturer's instructions (Miltenyi Biotec). Depleted cell preparations contained 1% CD8+ cells.

[0162] FACScan Analysis

[0163] Approximately 5×10⁵ cells were incubated in staining buffer (PBS supplemented with 2% FCS and 0.1% sodium azide) with the desired antibody or combination of antibodies for 30 min at 4° C. After washes, cells were analysed on a FACScan (Becton Dickinson). The monoclonal antibodies used were FITC-conjugated anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 (clones H129.19 and 53-6.7; Pharmingen).

Example 7 Cell Proliferation

[0164] Cell Proliferation Assay

[0165] Spleen cell suspensions were enriched for CD4+ T cells using MiniMACS Magnetic Ly-2 and indirect goat-anti-mouse-IgG Microbeads according to the instructions of the manufacturer (Mitenyi Biotec GmbH, Germany). Cell preparations contained >65% of CD4+ cells. Cells were adjusted to 2×10⁶ cells/ml in complete medium supplemented with 20 U/ml of mouse rIL-2 (Pharmigen), seeded at 100 μl/well in a flat-bottomed 96-well microtiter plate (Nunc, Roskilde, Denmark) and incubated for four days in the presence of different concentrations of soluble 1-gal. During the final 18 hours of culture 1 μCi of [³H]-thymidine (Amersham International, Amersham, U.K.) was added per well. The cells were harvested on paper filters using a cell harvester and the [³H]-thymidine incorporated into the DNA of proliferating cells was determined in a β-scintillation counter.

Example 8 Characterization of ssr Genes and Construction and Characterization of the ssr Mutant S. typhimurium Strains MvP284, MvP320 and MvP333

[0166] Homology of the Two Component Regulator Genes ssrA and ssrB of SPI2 with Other Bacterial Proteins

[0167] The SPI2 gene ssrA encodes a protein similar to sensor components of bacterial two component regulatory systems as has been described before (Ochman et al., 1996). For consistency with the nomenclature of SPI2 virulence genes (Hensel et al., 1997b; Valdivia and Falkow, 1997), this gene is designated ssrA. Downstream of ssrA, an ORF with coding capacity for a 24.3 kDa protein was identified. This gene shares significant similarity with a family of genes encoding transcriptional activators like DegU of Bacillus subtilis, UvrY of E. coli and BvgA of Bordetella pertussis. Therefore, it is likely that the protein acts as the regulatory component of the ssr system and the gene was designated ssrB.

[0168] Inverse Regulation of SPI1 and SPI2

[0169] The expression of the type III secretions systems of SPI1 and SPI2 is tightly regulated by environmental conditions. While SPI1 is induced during late loglearly stationary phase after growth in rich media of high osmolarity and limiting O₂ (oxygen) concentration, no induction of SPI2 gene expression was observed. In contrast, after growth in minimal medium with limiting amounts of Mg²⁺ (8 μM) the ssaB::luc fusion was highly expressed while the sipC::lacZ fusion was not expressed. The expression of the ssaB::luc fusion is dependent on the function of SsrA/B, since there is no expression in the ssrB-negative background strain P8G12 (Hensel et al., 1998). The expression of the sipC::lacZ fusion is dependent on HilA, the transcriptional regulator of SPI1. We also observed that a mutation in ssrB affects expression of the sipC::lacZ fusion. This indicates that SPI2 has a regulatory effect on the expression of SPI1 genes.

[0170] Bacterial strains harbouring a luc fusion to ssaB in SPI2 (strain MvP131) and a lacZ fusion to sipC in SPI1 (strain MvP239) were grown under conditions previously shown to induce SPI gene expression. Bacteria were grown over night in minimal medium containing 8 μM Mg²⁺ or over night in LB broth containing 1% NaCl (LB 1% NaCl). The Luc activity of strain MvP131 and β-galactosidase activity of strain MvP239 were determined. As a control, both reporter fusions were assayed in the ssrB negative strain background of P8G12.

[0171] Expression levels of lacZ Reporter-gene fusions to SPI genes were assayed as described by Miller, 1992.

[0172] Construction and Analysis of sseA Reporter Gene Fusion

[0173] A 1.1 kb SmaI/HincII fragment of p5-4 was subcloned into pGP101, a suicide vector for the generation of luc fusions (Gunn and Miller, 1996). The resulting construct, in which 1.0 kb upstream and 112 bp of sseA is transcriptionally fused to luc was used to transform E. coli S17-1 λpir, and conjugational transfer to S. typhimurium performed as described previously (Gunn and Miller, 1996). Strains that had integrated the reporter gene fusion into the chromosome by homologous recombination were confirmed by PCR and Southern hybridization analysis. Subsequently, the fusion was moved by P22 transduction into the wild-type and various mutant strain backgrounds with mTn5 insertions in SPI1 or SPI2 genes (Maloy et al., 1996). As a control, a strain was constructed harbouring a chromosomal integration of pLB02, a suicide plasmid without a promoter fusion to the luc gene (Gunn and Miller, 1996). For the analysis of gene expression, strains were grown for 16 h in minimal medium with aeration. Aliquots of the bacterial cultures were lysed and luciferase activity was determined using a luciferase assay kit according to the manufacturer's protocol (Boehringer Mannheim). Photon detection was performed on a Microplate scintillation/luminescence counter (Wallac, Turku). All assay were done in triplicate, and replicated on independent occasions.

[0174] Expression of sseA is Dependent on SsrAB

[0175] To establish if the sse genes are part of the SPI2 secretion system, the expression of an sseA::luc reporter gene fusion, integrated by homologous recombination into the chromosome of different SPI2 mutant strains, has been investigated (FIG. 11). Transcriptional activity of sseA in a wild-type background during growth in minimal medium was dramatically reduced by inactivation of the SPI2 two-component system. Transposon insertions in ssrA (mutant strain P3F4) and ssrB (mutant strain P8G12), encoding the sensor component and the transcriptional activator, respectively, resulted in 250 to 300-fold reduced expression of sseA. Inactivation of hilA, the transcriptional activator of SPI1 (Bajaj et al., 1996), had no effect on sseA gene expression. Transposon insertions in two genes encoding components of the SPI2 type III secretion apparatus (ssaJ::mTn5 and ssaT::mTn5; mutant strains P11D10 and P9B7; Shea et al., 1996) also had no significant effect on the expression of sseA. These data show that SsrA/B is required for the expression of sseA, but that hilA is not.

[0176] Expression of SPI2 Genes within Macrophages is Dependent on SsrA/B

[0177] The presence of S. typhimurium within eukaryotic cells (macrophages) induces the expression of SPI2 genes as indicated by analysis of fusions to ssaB and ssaH. This expression is dependent on the two component regulatory system SsrA/B encoded by SPI2.

[0178] The murine macrophage-line cell line J744 was used for this experiment. Macrophages were infected at a multiplicity of infection of 10 bacteria per macrophage with MvP131 (luc fusion to ssaB), MvP266 (luc fusion of ssaH) and MvP244 (luc fusion to ssaB in a ssrB negative background). Extracellular bacteria were killed by the addition of gentamicin (20 μg/ml). At various time points, macrophages were lysed by the addition of 0.1% Triton X-100, and intracellular bacteria were enumerated by plating serial dilutions onto LB agar plates. A further aliquot of the bacteria was recovered and the luciferase activity was determined. Luciferase activities were expressed a relative light emission per bacteria.

[0179] Effects of a Mutation in ssrB on the Secreted Effector Protein of SPI1 SipC

[0180] Analysis of proteins secreted into the growth medium by the S. typhimurium SPI2 mutant strain MvP320 (non-polar mutation in a, FIG. 12) revealed the absence or strong reduction in the amounts of the secreted SPI1 effector protein (Hensel et al., 1997b). These SPI2 mutants are also reduced in their ability to invade cultured epithelial cells or cultured macrophages (Hensel et al., 1997b). To examine this phenomenon in greater detail, we expressed recombinant SipC (rSipC) and raised antibodies against rSipC in rabbits. In Western blots, antiserum against rSipC reacted with a 42 kDa protein from precipitates of culture supernatants of S. typhimurium wild-type strain NCTC12023. No reaction was observed with supernatants from cultures of EE638, a strain deficient in SipC (Hueck et al., 1995). Furthermore, in Western blots SipC could not be detected in culture supernatants of the SPI2 mutants MvP320. However, SipC was detected in culture supernatants of other SPI2 mutants like P2D6 (ssa V::mTn5), P9B6 (ssa V::mTn5) and NPssa V(ssa V::aphT) (Deiwick et al., 1998). The detection by antiserum of SipC in culture supernatants of various strains was in accord with the presence or absence of SipC as detected by SDS-PAGE. Further it was analyzed whether the absence of SipC in culture supernatants of SPI2 mutant strains was due to defective secretion of SipC via the type III secretion system or reduced synthesis of SipC in these strains. Antiserum against rSipC was used to detect SipC in pellets of cultures grown under inducing conditions for the expression of SPI1 genes (i.e. stationary phase, high osmolarity, low oxygen) (Bajaj et al., 1996). Analysis of wild-type and strains carrying various mutations in SPI1 and SPI2 genes indicated highly reduced amounts of SipC in the mutants with a non-polar mutation in ssrB. However, SipC was detected at levels comparable to those observed in pellets of wild-type cultures and SPI2 mutant strains P2D6, P9B6 and NPssa V. The effect on SipC synthesis is not due to reduced growth rates or reduced protein levels in SPI2 mutants, since both parameters were comparable for the wild-type and SPI2 mutants.

[0181] Effects of a Mutation in the SPI2 Gene ssrB on the Expression of SPI1 Genes

[0182] In order to assay the effect of SPI2 mutations on the expression of SPI1 genes, previously characterized fusions of lacZ to various SPI1 genes (Bajaj et al., 1995; Bajaj et al., 1996) were transduced into the SPI2 mutant MvP320 and various SPI1 mutants to generate a set of reporter fusion strains. The expression of the reporter β-galactosidase in cultures grown under conditions inducing for SPI1 expression (see above) was assayed. A Tn insertion in hilA (P4H2) reduced the expression of prgK as well as sipC, while an insertion in spaRS(P6E11) only affected the expression of sipC. Some mutant strains with a mutation in the SPI2 gene ssrB encoding a components of the two component regulatory system showed reduced expression of reporter fusions to prgK and sipC (FIG. 11). The effects on the expression of both genes was similar. Other mutant strains with Tn insertions in ssaV (P2D6, P9B6), as well as mutant NPssaV harbouring a non-polar insertions in ssaV, had levels of expression of prgK and sipC comparable to that of corresponding reporter fusions in a wild-type genetic background. Analysis of lacZ fusions to prgH and invF revealed a similar effect on expression as shown for prgK and sipC.

[0183] A Mutation in the SPI2 Gene ssrB Affects Expression of the SPI1 Regulator hilA

[0184] Analysis of reporter fusions to sipC and prgK indicated that expression of genes in two different operons of SPI1 can be affected by SPI2 mutations, suggesting that these mutations affect other SPI1 genes involved in regulation of sipC and prgK. It has been demonstrated previously that the expression of SPI1 genes is under the control of the transcriptional activator HilA (Bajaj et al., 1995; Bajaj et al., 1996). The expression of hilA was therefore analyzed in the presence of a SPI2 mutation in ssrB. The SPI2 mutant strain MvP320 had largely diminished levels of hilA expression. Again, very low levels of hilA expression were observed in mutants that had reduced levels of prgK and sipC expression. To analyze whether the effect of the SPI2 mutation on sipC expression resulted from the reduced expression of hilA, we next performed complementation experiments in various mutant strains harbouring pVV135 (constitutive expression of hilA) (Bajaj et al., 1996) or pVV214 (expression of hilA from the native promoter) (Bajaj et al., 1995). In accordance with a previous study (Bajaj et al., 1995), the hilA mutation of strain P4H2 was complemented by pVV214. However, the sipC expression was not restored in the mutant strain MvP320 harbouring either pVV135 or pVV214.

[0185] Construction of the ssrA and ssrB Mutant S. typhimurium Strains MvP284 and MvP320

[0186] Mutant MvP284, ssrA. The ssrA gene (FIG. 12) was subcloned from the phage clone λ2 derived plasmid p2-2 on a 5.7 kb BamHI fragment in pUC18 as indicated in Table 1. A 1.6 kb fragment was recovered after HindIII and EcoRV digestion of p2-2 and subcloned in HindIII/HincII-digested pbluescript II KS+. The resulting construct termed p2-20 was digested with HincII and dephosphorylated with alkaline phosphatase. The aphT cassette was isolated as described above and ligated to the linearized plasmid p2-20 in the same orientation into the unique HincII site. After transformation of E. coli XL-1 Blue and selection against kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each) one clone has been chosen and the harbouring plasmid isolated. This plasmid was termed p2-21 and its identity proved via restriction analysis. p2-21 was further digested with KpnI and XbaI, a 2.5 kb fragment isolated and ligated to KpnI/XbaI-digested pKAS32. This plasmid was electroporated into E. coli CC118 λpir and transformants selected to kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each). As done before, one clone was chosen, its plasmid with the according DNA fragment in pKAS32, termed p2-22, isolated and confirmed by restriction analysis. Plasmid p2-22 was electroporated into E. coli S17-1 λpir and transferred into S. typhimurium NCTC12023 (streptomycin resistant) by conjugation as has been described previously (de Lorenzo and Timmis, 1994). Exconjugants in which the ssrA gene had been replaced by the cloned gene disrupted by insertion of the aphT cassette were selected by its growth on M9+ glucose minimal medium agar plates (Maloy et al., 1996) and its resistance to kanamycin and carbenicillin (100 μg/ml). The resulting exconjugants were finally shown to have a lactose negative phenotype and to be sensitive to kanamycin and streptomycin. Selected clones were further examined by Southernblot analysis. In order to exclude possible mutations which might have been developed during the cloning procedure the mutated ssrA allele was transfered into a fresh Salmonella background by P22 transduction (described by Maloy et al., 1996). The resulting Salmonella strain MvP284 was examined for the presence of the resistance cassette within the ssrA gene by the use of primers ssrA-For (5′-AAG GAA TTC AAC AGG CAA CTG GAG G-3′) and ssrA-Rev (5-CTG CCC TCG CGA AAA TTA AGA TAA TA-3′). Amplification of DNA from clones containing the wild-type ssrA allele resulted in a PCR product of 2800 bp, use of DNA from clones harbouring a ssrA allele disrupted by the aphT cassette resulted in a PCR product of 3750 bp. The resulting Salmonella strain MvP320 was examined for the presence of the resistance cassette within the ssrB gene by the use of Southern hybridization analysis of total DNA of exconjugants.

[0187] Mutant MvP320, ssrB. The ssrB gene (FIG. 12) was subcloned from the phage clone λ1 derived plasmid p1-6 on a 4.8 kb PstI/BamHI-fragment in pT7-Blue as indicated in Table 1. A 1.7 kb fragment was recovered after BamHI and HincII digestion of p1-6 and subcloned in BamHI/HincII-digested pBluescript II KS+. The resulting construct termed p1-20 was digested with EcoRV and dephosphorylated with alkaline phosphatase. The aphT cassette was isolated as described above and ligated to the linearized plasmid p1-20 in the same orientation into the unique EcoRV site. After transformation of E. coli XL-1 Blue and selection against kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each) one clone has been chosen and the harbouring plasmid isolated. This plasmid was termed p1-21 and its identity confirmed by restriction analysis. p1-21 was further digested with KpnI and XbaI, a 2.5 kb fragment isolated and ligated to KpnI/XbaI-digested pKAS32. This plasmid was electroporated into E. coli CC 118 λpir and transformed bacteria selected to kanamycin and carbenicillin (50 μg/ml each) was performed. As done before, one clone was chosen, its plasmid with the according DNA fragment in pKAS32, termed p1-22, isolated and confirmed by restriction analysis. Plasmid p1-22 was electroporated into E. coli S17-1 λpir and transferred into S. typhimurium NCTC12023 (streptomycin resistant) by conjugation as has been described previously (de Lorenzo and Timmis, 1994). Exconjugants in which the ssrB gene had been replaced by the cloned gene disrupted by insertion of the aphT cassette were selected by its growth on M9+ glucose minimal medium agar plates (Maloy et al., 1996) and its resistance to kanamycin and carbenicillin (100 μg/ml). The resulting exconjugants were finally shown to have a lactose negative phenotype and to be sensitive to kanamycin and streptomycin. Selected clones were further examined by Southernblot analysis. In order to exclude possible mutations which might have been acquired during the cloning procedure the mutated ssrB allele has been transferred into a fresh Salmonella background by P22 transduction (described by Maloy et al., 1996). Screening of mutants with a insertion of the aphT cassette within the ssrB locus was performed by PCR using primers ssrB-For (5′-CTT AAT TTT CGC GAG GG-3′) and ssrB-Rev (5′-GGA CGC CCC TGG TTA ATA-3′). Amplification of DNA from clones containing the wild-type ssrB allele resulted in a PCR product of 660 bp, use of DNA from clones harbouring a ssrB allele disrupted by insertion of the aphT cassette resulted in a PCR product of 1600 bp. The resulting Salmonella strain MvP320 was examined for the presence of the resistance cassette within the ssrB gene by the use of Southern hybridization analysis of total DNA of exconjugants.

[0188] Construction of the Mutant Strain MvP340 Carrying an In-Frame Deletion in ssrA

[0189] A deletion of 407 codons between codon 44 and 451 of ssrB was generated. Plasmid p2-2 was digested by BamHI and KpnI, a fragment of 3.7 kb was recovered and subcloned in pBluescript KS+ to generate p2-50. Plasmid p2-50 was linearized by digestion with PstI, which cuts once within the subcloned fragment of the ssrA gene. Primers ssrA-del-1 (5′-GGT CTG CAG GAT TTT TCA CGC ATC GCG TC-3′) and ssrB-del-2 (5′-GGT CTG CAG AAC CAT TGA TAT ATA AGC TGC-3′) were designed to introduce PstI sites. PCR was performed using linearized p2-50 as template DNA. The TaqPlus polymerase (Stratagene) was used according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Reactions of 100 μl volume were set up using 10 μl of 10× TaqPlus Precision buffer containing magnesium chloride, 0.8 μl of 100 mM dNTPs, 250 ng DNA template (linearized p2-50), 250 ng of each primer and 5 U of TaqPlus DNA polymerase. PCR was carried out for 35 cycles of: 95° C. for 1 minute, 60° C. for 1 minute, 72° C. for 6 minutes. Then a final step of 72° C. for 10 minutes was added. 10 μl of the PCR reaction were analyzed. A product of the expected size was recovered, digested by PstI, self-ligated, and the ligation mixture was used to transform E. coli DH5α to resistance to carbenicillin. Plasmids were isolated from transformants and the integrity of the insert and the deletion was analyzed by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing. The insert of a confirmed construct was isolated after digestion with XbaI and KpnI and ligated to XbaI/KpnI-digested vector pKAS32. The resulting construct was used to transform E. coli S17-1 λpir to resistance to carbenicillin, and conjugational transfer of the plasmid to S. typhimurium (Nal^(R), Strep^(R)) was performed according to standard procedures (de Lorenzo and Timmis, 1994). Exconjugants that had integrated the suicide plasmid by homologous recombination were selected by resistance to nalidixic acid and carbenicillin, and screened for sensitivity to streptomycin. Such clones were grown in LB to OD600 of about 0.5 and aliquots were plated on LB containing 250 μg/ml streptomycin to select for colonies which had lost the integrated plasmid and undergone allelic exchange. Clones resistant to streptomycin but sensitive to carbenicillin were used for further analysis. Screening of mutants with a deletion within the ssrA locus was performed by PCR using primers ssrA-For (5′-AAG GAA TTC AAC AGG CAA CTG GAG G-3′) and ssrA-Rev (5-CTG CCC TCG CGA AAA TTA AGA TAA TA-3′). Amplification of DNA from clones containing the wild-type ssrA allele resulted in a PCR product of 2800 bp, use of DNA from clones harbouring a ssrA allele with an internal deletion resulted in a PCR product of 1580 bp. The integrity of clones harbouring the ssrA deletion was further confirmed by Southernanalysis of the ssrA locus. Finally, the ssrA locus containing the internal in-frame deletion was moved into a fresh strain background of S. typhimurium by P22 transduction (Maloy et al., 1996) and the resulting strain was designated MvP340.

[0190] Southern Hybridization

[0191] Genomic DNA of Salmonella was prepared as previously described (Hensel et al., 1997). For Southern hybridization analysis, genomic DNA was digested with EcoRI or EcoRV, fractionated on 0.6% agarose gels and transferred to Hybond N⁺ membranes (Amersham, Braunschweig). Various probes corresponding to the ssrA and ssrB region were obtained as restriction fragments of the subcloned insert of λ1 and λ2.

Example 9 Evaluation of Safety of S. typhimurium Strain MvP320

[0192] For competition assays between S. typhimurium wild-type and the mutant strain MvP320, bacteria were grown in LB to an optical density at 600 nm of 0.4-0.6. Cultures were diluted and aliquots of the two cultures were mixed to form an inoculum containing equal amounts of both strains. The ratio of both strains was determined by plating dilutions on LB plates containing antibiotics selective for individual strains. An inoculum of about 10⁴ colony forming units (cfu) was used to infect 6 to 8 weeks old female BALB/c mice (Charles River Breeders, Wiga) by injection into the peritoneal cavity. At several time points after infection mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the bacterial load of liver and spleen was determined by plating tissue homogenates using the ‘WASP’ (Meintrup, Lahden) spiral plating device. Plating was performed using LB plates containing 50 μg/ml kanamycin or 100 μg/ml nalidixic acid to select for the mutant strains or the wild-type, respectively.

[0193] Strain MvP320 harbouring the aphT gene cassette in ssrB was recovered in at least 1000-fold lower numbers than the S. typhimurium wild-type strain. These data indicate that ssrB contributes significantly to systemic infections of S. typhimurium in the mouse model of salmonellosis.

[0194] Statistical Analysis of all Experiments.

[0195] Statistical significance between paired samples was determined by Student's t test. The significance of the obtained results was determined using the statgraphic plus for windows 2.0 software (Statistical Graphic Corp.).

Example 10 Characterization of the In Vivo Inducible P_(ssaE) Promoter (Promoter B, FIG. 24B)

[0196] The promoter which is located upstream of ssaE (P_(ssaE), formerly called Promoter B) was shown to be regulated by the ssrAB locus. A DNA fragment comprising nucleotide 800 to 120 (800-1205) in the included sequence (FIG. 21A) was shown to confer ssrB-dependent regulation upon the expression of a reporter gene (gfp) fused to the promoter. The DNA fragment was cloned on a low-copy plasmid in front of the gfp gene. As has been shown previously for other reporter gene constructs, induction of expression from P_(ssaE) (800-1205) was observed in magnesium minimal medium (Deiwick et al., 1999) and was dependent on the presence of a chromosomal wild type allele of ssrB. A shorter DNA fragment, comprising nucleotide 923 to 1205 (923-1205) in the included sequence, did not confer regulation upon expression of gfp. However, expression was reduced compared to the P_(ssaE) (800-1205) fragment and was not induced in magnesium minimal medium nor was it dependent on ssrB. Thus, the P_(ssaE) (800-1205) fragment comprises promoter active and regulatory sequences, probably including an SsrB-binding site.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0197]FIG. 1. Map of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 (A) indicating the positions of the mutations in strains MvP101, MvP102, and MvP103 (B). A partial restriction map of the genomic region is shown, and the positions of plasmid inserts relevant for this work are indicated (C). B, BamHI; C, ClaI; E, EcoRI; P, PstI; V, EcoRV; S, SmaI; EMBL database accession numbers are indicated for the sequences in (A).

[0198]FIG. 2a. Alignment of the deduced SseB amino acid sequence to EspA of EPEC (Elliot et al., 1998). The ClustalW algorithm of the MacVector 6.0 program was used to construct the alignments. Similar amino acid residues are boxed, identical residues are boxed and shaded.

[0199]FIG. 2b. Alignment of the deduced SseC amino acid sequence to EspD of EPEC (Elliot et al., 1998), YopB of Yersinia enterocolitica (Hakansson et al., 1993), and PepB of Pseudomonas aeruinosa (Hauser et al., 1998). The ClustalW algorithm of the MacVector 6.0 program was used to construct the alignments. Positions where at least three amino acid residues are similar are boxed, where at least three residues are identical are boxed and shaded.

[0200]FIG. 3. Intracellular accumulation of S. typhimurium SPI2 mutants in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Following opsonization and infection, macrophages were lysed and cultured for enumeration of intracellular bacteria (gentamicin protected) at 2 h and 16 h post-infection. The values shown represent the fold increase calculated as a ratio of the intracellular bacteria between 2 h and 16 h post-infection. Infection was performed in in triplicates for each strain and the standard error from the mean is shown.

[0201]FIG. 4. Intracellular survival and replication of SPI2 mutant S. typhimurium in (A) J774.1 cells and (B) periodate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from C3H/HeN mice. After opsonization and internalization, phagocytes were lysed and cultured for enumeration of viable intracellular bacteria at time 0 h. The values shown represent the proportion of this intracellular inoculum viable at 20 h±the standard error of the mean. Samples were processed in triplicate, and each experiment was performed at least twice.

[0202]FIG. 5. β-gal-specific antibodies in intestinal lavages of mice orally immunized with either MvP101[pAH97], MvP103 [pAH97], SL7207 [pAH97] or MvP101 at day 52 after immunization. Results are expressed as percentage of the corresponding total Ig subclass present in the intestinal lavage, the SEM is indicated by vertical lines. Significant levels of antigen-specific IgM could not be detected in any of the groups. The results obtained with MvP103 and SL7207 (not shown) were similar to those for MvP101.

[0203]FIG. 6. β-gal-specific proliferative response of CD4+ enriched spleen cells from mice orally immunized with either MvP101 [pAH97], MvP103 [pAH97], SL7207 [pAH97] or MvP101. Cells were restimulated in vitro during a 4 day incubation with different concentrations of soluble β-gal. The values are expressed as mean cpm of triplicates; the SEM was in all cases lower than 10%. Background values obtained from wells without the stimulating antigen were subtracted. Results obtained with MvP103 and SL7207 (not shown) were similar to those obtained with MvP101.

[0204]FIG. 7. IFN-γ present in supernatants from cultured CD4+ enriched spleen cells of mice orally immunized with either MvP101 [pAH97], MvP103 [PAH97], SL7207 [pAH97] or plasmidless MvP101 at day 2 and 4 of culture. Spleen cells were isolated from mice at day 52 after immunization, and CD4+ enriched populations were restimulated in vitro for four days in the presence of soluble β-gal (20 μg/ml). IFN-γ production was determined by ELISA, results represent the means of three determinations. The SEM is indicated by vertical lines, similar results were obtained using any of the plasmidless carriers (not shown). No significant differences with the control groups were observed when IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 were tested (not shown).

[0205]FIG. 8. Kinetics of the β-gal-specific serum IgG (closed symbols) and IgM (open symbols) antibody responses in mice (n=5) after oral immunization with either MvP101 [pAH97] (triangle), MvP103 [pAH97] (circle), SL7207 [pAH97] (square) or plasmidless MvP101 (diamond). Results are expressed as the reciprocal log₂ of the geometric mean end point titer (GMT), the SEM was in all cases lower than 10%. Similar results were obtained using any of the plasmidless carriers (not shown), immunizations are indicated by arrows.

[0206]FIG. 9. Subclass profiles of the β-gal-specific IgG antibodies present in the serum of mice (n=5) orally immunized with either MvP101 [pAH97], MvP103 [pAH97], SL7207 [PAH97] or plasmidless MvP101 at day 52 post-immunization. Results are expressed as ng/ml, the SEM is indicated by vertical lines. Similar results were obtained using any of the plasmidless carriers (not shown).

[0207]FIG. 10. Recognition of the MHC class I-restricted βGP1 epitope by lymphocytes primed in vivo in mice by oral vaccination with either MvP101 [pAH97], MvP103 [pAH97], SL7207 [pAH97] or plasmidless MvP101. Spleen cells from immunized mice were restimulated in vitro five days in the presence of 20 μM βGP1. At the end of the culture, lymphocytes were tested in a [³H]-thymidine-release assay using P815 (open symbols) and βGP1-loaded P815 (closed symbols) as targets. Results are mean values of triplicate wells (one out of three independent experiments is shown) and are expressed as: [(retained cpm in the absence of effectors)−(experimentally retained cpm in the presence of effectors)/retained cpm in the absence of effectors]×100; SEM were lower than 5% of the values. Similar results were obtained using any of the plasmidless carriers (not shown).

[0208]FIG. 11. Expression of an sseA::luc fusion in wild-type and mTn5 mutant strains of S. typhimurium.

[0209]FIG. 12. Map of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 (A) indicating the positions of the mutations in strains MvP284 and MvP320 (B). A partial restriction map of the genomic region is shown, and the position of inserts of plasmids relevant for this work is indicated (C). B, BamHI; C, ClaI; H, HindIII; P, PstI; V; S, SmaI; EcoRV; II, HincII.

[0210]FIG. 13. Model for the transcriptional organization of SPI2 virulence genes. This model is based on the observation of the transcriptional direction of SPI2 genes, characterization of promoter activities

[0211]FIG. 14 shows the principle of how mutations having a different grade of attenuation can be generated. As shown in A, the inactivation of one effector gene such as sse results in a low grade of attenuation. As shown in B, the additional inactivation of a gene located outside the SPI2 locus such as aroA results in a medium grade of attenuation. By insertional mutation with a polar effect all genes in a polycistronic cluster are affected which results in a high grade of attenuation, as shown in C. As shown in D, the inactivation of a regulatory gene such as ssrB results in a supreme attenuation.

[0212]FIG. 15 shows the principle of insertional mutation by example of insertional mutation into a virulence gene. Different cassettes such as SMC, GEC, TC and/or invertase cassette may be inserted into a cloned virulence gene, thus yielding an inactivated virulence gene which may be introduced into a cell by homologous recombination using a virulence gene cassette.

[0213]FIG. 16 illustrates the selective marker cassette.

[0214]FIG. 17 illustrates the gene expression cassette and the induction thereof in a two-phase system. The gene expression cassette comprises a promoter, optionally a gene cassette comprising one or more expression units and optionally one or more transcriptional terminators for the expression units and/or a transcribed sequence 5′ to the gene expression cassette.

[0215]FIG. 18 shows the structural requirements of the gene expression unit for the delivery of heterologous antigens into various compartments, i.e. accessory sequences that direct the targeting of the expression product.

[0216]FIG. 19 shows a transactivator cassette in a one-phase system and a two-phase system.

[0217]FIG. 20 shows different modes of gene expression as realized by the combination of different accessory sequences and/or cassettes in a one-phase system and a two-phase system.

[0218]FIG. 21A shows the genomic sequence of a region of the SPI2 locus from Salmonella comprising the complete sequences of the genes ssaE to ssaI and partial sequences of ssaD and ssaJ (cf. FIG. 12).

[0219]FIG. 21B shows the nucleotide sequence of a region of the SPI2 locus from Salmonella comprising the coding sequences for ssrA and ssrB.

[0220] FIGS. 22A-Q each show the nucleotide sequence of the respective gene indicated.

[0221] FIGS. 23A-Q each show the amino acid sequence of the respective polypeptide indicated.

[0222] FIGS. 24A,B each show a nucleotide sequence comprising an in vivo inducible promoter.

LITERATURE

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0 SEQUENCE LISTING <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 73 <210> SEQ ID NO 1 <211> LENGTH: 8457 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 1 ctgcagttgt ccggttattg ctcgtcaagc gaacagatgc aaaaggtgag agcgactctc 60 gaatcatggg gggtcatgta tcgggatggt gtaatctgtg atgacttatt ggtacgagaa 120 gtgcaggatg ttttgataaa aatgggttac ccgcatgctg aagtatccag cgaagggccg 180 gggagcgtgt taattcatga tgatatacaa atggatcagc aatggcgcaa ggttcaacca 240 ttacttgcag atattcccgg gttattgcac tggcagatta gtcactctca tcagtctcag 300 ggggatgata ttatttctgc gataatagag aacggtttag tggggcttgt caatgttagc 360 ccaatgcggc gctcttttgt tatcagtggt gtactggatg aatctcatca acgcattttg 420 caagaaacgt tagcagcatt aaagaaaaag gatcccgctc tttctttaat ttatcaggat 480 attgcgcctt cccatgatga aagcaagtat ctgcctgcgc cagtggctgg ctttgtacag 540 agtcgccatg gtaattactt attactgacg aataaagagc gtttacgtgt aggggcattg 600 ttacccaatg ggggagaaat tgtccatctg agtgccgatg tggtaacgat taaacattat 660 gatactttga ttaactatcc attagatttt aagtgagtgg aaaatgacaa ctttgacccg 720 gttagaagat ttgctgcttc attcgcgtga agaggccaaa ggcataattt tacaattaag 780 ggctgcccgg aaacagttag aagagaacaa cggcaagtta caggatccgc agcaatatca 840 gcaaaacacc ttattgcttg aagcgatcga gcaggccgaa aatatcatca acattattta 900 ttatcgttac cataacagcg cacttgtagt gagtgagcaa gagtaaagta aaaatatctt 960 agagcctatc ccaccaggcg ttaattggcg cagccagttt ggacacggat agcgcgcaaa 1020 aaccgcagcg tacacgtagt acgtgaggtt tgactcgcta cgctcgccct tcgggccgcc 1080 gctagcggcg ttcaaaacgc taacgcgttt tggcgagcac tgcccaggtt caaaatggca 1140 agtaaaatag cctaatggga taggctctta gttagcacgt taattatcta tcgtgtatat 1200 ggaggggaat gatgataaag aaaaaggctg cgtttagtga atatcgtgat ttagagcaaa 1260 gttacatgca gctaaatcac tgtcttaaaa aatttcacca aatccgggct aaggtgagtc 1320 aacagcttgc tgaaagggca gagagcccca aaaatagcag agagacagag agtattcttc 1380 ataacctatt tccacaaggc gttgccgggg ttaaccagga ggccgagaag gatttaaaga 1440 aaatagtaag tttgtttaaa caacttgaag tacgactgaa acaacttaat gctcaagccc 1500 cggtggagat accgtcagga aaaacaaaaa ggtaaagcat aatgtcttca ggaaacatct 1560 tatggggaag tcaaaaccct attgtgttta aaaatagctt cggcgtcagc aacgctgata 1620 ccgggagcca ggatgactta tcccagcaaa atccgtttgc cgaagggtat ggtgttttgc 1680 ttattctcct tatggttatt caggctatcg caaataataa atttattgaa gtccagaaga 1740 acgctgaacg tgccagaaat acccaggaaa agtcaaatga gatggatgag gtgattgcta 1800 aagcagccaa aggggatgct aaaaccaaag aggaggtgcc tgaggatgta attaaataca 1860 tgcgtgataa tggtattctc atcgatggta tgaccattga tgattatatg gctaaatatg 1920 gcgatcatgg gaagctggat aaaggtggcc tacaggcgat caaagcggct ttggataatg 1980 acgccaaccg gaataccgat cttatgagtc aggggcagat aacaattcaa aaaatgtctc 2040 aggagcttaa cgctgtcctt acccaactga cagggcttat cagtaagtgg ggggaaattt 2100 ccagtatgat agcgcagaaa acgtactcat gaaaaaagac ccgaccctac aacaggcaca 2160 tgacacgatg cggtttttcc ggcgtggcgg ctcgctgcgt atgttgttgg atgacgatgt 2220 tacacagccg cttaatactc tgtatcgcta tgccacgcag cttatggagg taaaagaatt 2280 cgccggcgca gcgcgacttt ttcaattgct gacgatatat gatgcctggt catttgacta 2340 ctggtttcgg ttaggggaat gctgccaggc tcaaaaacat tggggggaag cgatatacgc 2400 ttatggacgc gcggcacaaa ttaagattga tgcgccgcag gcgccatggg ccgcagcgga 2460 atgctatctc gcgtgtgata acgtctgtta tgcaatcaaa gcgttaaagg ccgtggtgcg 2520 tatttgcggc gaggtcagtg aacatcaaat tctccgacag cgtgcagaaa agatgttaca 2580 gcaactttct gacaggagct aaaaatgaat cgaattcaca gtaatagcga cagcgccgca 2640 ggagtaaccg ccttaacaca tcatcactta agcaatgtca gttgcgtttc ctcgggttcg 2700 ctgggaaagc gccagcatcg tgtgaattct acttttggcg atggcaacgc cgcgtgtctg 2760 ctatccggga aaattagtct tcaggaggca agcaatgcgt tgaagcaact gcttgatgcc 2820 gtacccggaa atcataagcg tccatcattg cctgactttt tgcagaccaa tcccgcggtt 2880 ttatcaatga tgatgacgtc attaatactc aacgtctttg gtaataacgc tcaatcgtta 2940 tgccaacagc ttgagcgggc aactgaggtg caaaatgcat tacgtaataa gcaggtaaag 3000 gagtatcagg agcagatcca gaaagcgata gagcaggagg ataaagcgcg taaagcgggt 3060 atttttggcg ctatttttga ctggattacc ggcatatttg aaaccgtgat tggcgcctta 3120 aaagttgtgg aaggttttct gtccggaaat cccgcagaaa tggctagcgg cgtagcttat 3180 atggccgcag gttgtgcagg aatggttaaa gccggagccg aaacggcaat gatgtgcggt 3240 gctgaccacg atacctgtca ggcaattatt gacgtgacaa gtaagattca atttggttgt 3300 gaagccgtcg cgctggcact ggatgttttc cagattggcc gtgcttttat ggcgacgaga 3360 ggtttatctg gcgcagctgc aaaagtgctt gactccggtt ttggcgagga agtggttgag 3420 cgtatggtag gtgcagggga agcagaaata gaggagttgg ctgaaaagtt tggcgaagaa 3480 gtgagcgaaa gtttttccaa acaatttgag ccgcttgaac gtgaaatggc tatggcgaat 3540 gagatggcag aggaggctgc cgagttttct cgtaacgtag aaaataatat gacgcgaagc 3600 gcgggaaaaa gctttacgaa agagggggtg aaagccatgg caaaagaagc ggcaaaagaa 3660 gccctggaaa aatgtgtgca agaaggtgga aagttcctgt taaaaaaatt ccgtaataaa 3720 gttctcttca atatgttcaa aaaaatcctg tatgccttac tgagggattg ttcatttaaa 3780 ggcttacagg ctatcagatg tgcaaccgag ggcgccagtc agatgaatac tggcatggtt 3840 aacacagaaa aagcgaagat cgaaaagaaa atagagcaat taataactca gcaacggttt 3900 ctggatttca taatgcaaca aacagaaaac cagaaaaaga tagaacaaaa acgcttagag 3960 gagctttata aggggacggg tgccgcgctt agagatgtat tagataccat tgatcactat 4020 agtagcgttc aggcgagaat agctggctat cgcgcttaat ctgaggataa aaatatggaa 4080 gcgagtaacg tagcactggt attaccagcg ccttccttgt taacaccttc ttccactcca 4140 tctccctccg gggagggaat gggtactgaa tcaatgcttc tgttatttga tgatatctgg 4200 atgaagctaa tggagcttgc caaaaagctg cgcgatatca tgcgcagcta taacgtagaa 4260 aaacaacggc tggcctggga actgcaagtc aatgttttac agacgcaaat gaaaacaatt 4320 gatgaagcgt ttagagcatc aatgattact gcgggtggcg caatgttgtc gggtgtactg 4380 acgataggat taggggccgt aggcggggaa accggtctta tagcgggtca agccgtaggc 4440 cacacagctg ggggcgtcat gggcctgggg gctggtgtag cgcaacgtca aagtgatcaa 4500 gataaagcga ttgccgacct gcaacaaaat ggggcccaat cttataataa atccctgacg 4560 gaaattatgg agaaagcaac tgaaattatg cagcaaatca tcggcgtggg gtcgtcactg 4620 gtcacggttc ttgctgaaat actccgggca ttaacgaggt aaacatggtg caagaaatag 4680 agcaatggtt acgtcggcat caggtgttta ctgagcctgc atatttaggg gagaccgcca 4740 tattacttgg gcagcagttt atattatcgc cttacctggt gatctatcgt attgaggcaa 4800 aagaaatgat tatttgtgag ttcaggcgcc tgacgcccgg gcaacctcga ccacagcaat 4860 tgtttcactt actgggactt ttacgcggga tatttgtgca tcacccgcag ttaacatgtt 4920 taaagatgtt gataatcacc gacgttctgg atgaaaaaaa agccatgcta cgcaggaaat 4980 tattgcgcat cctgacagta atgggagcga cctttacaca gcttgatggc gataactgga 5040 cagttttatc cgccgagcat cttatccagc gacgttttta aatgaccttc ctgacgtaaa 5100 tcattatcac gtgaaaataa caatcaatag gtatgatgat gaaagaagat cagaaaaata 5160 aaatacccga agacattctg aaacagctat tatccgttga tccggaaacc gtttatgcca 5220 gtggttacgc ctcatggcag gagggggatt attcgcgcgc cgtaatcgat tttagttggc 5280 tggtgatggc ccagccatgg agttggcgtg cccatattgc attggctggc acctggatga 5340 tgcttaaaga atacacgacg gccattaatt tctatggaca tgccttgatg ctggatgcca 5400 gccatccaga accggtttac caaacgggcg tctgtctcaa aatgatgggg gaacccgggt 5460 tggcgagaga ggcttttcaa accgcaatca agatgagtta tgcggatgcc tcatggagtg 5520 agattcgcca gaatgcgcaa ataatggttg atactcttat tgcttaaata acagaacgaa 5580 atatgaaaat tcatattccg tcagcggcaa gtaatatagt cgatggtaat agtcctcctt 5640 ccgatataca agcgaaggag gtatcgtttc ctccccctga aattccagcg cctggcaccc 5700 ccgcagcccc tgtgctgctt acgcctgaac aaataaggca gcagagggat tatgcgatac 5760 attttatgca atacactatt cgtgcgctgg gtgcgacagt cgtgtttggg ttatcggttg 5820 ctgcagcggt aatttctggc ggggcaggat tacccattgc tattcttgcg ggggcggcgc 5880 tcgtgattgc tattggggat gcttgctgtg cgtatcataa ttatcaatcg atatgtcagc 5940 aaaaggagcc attacaaacc gccagtgata gcgttgctct tgtggtcagt gcgctggcct 6000 taaaatgtgg ggcaagtctt aactgcgcta acacccttgc taattgtctt tctttattaa 6060 tacgttcagg aatcgctatt tctatgttgg ttttacccct acagtttcca ctgcccgcgg 6120 ctgaaaatat tgcggcctct ttggacatgg ggagtgtaat tacctccgtt agcctgacgg 6180 cgataggtgc ggtactggat tattgccttg cccgcccctc tggcgacgat caggaaaatt 6240 ctgttgatga acttcatgcc gatcccagtg tgttattggc ggaacaaatg gcagcgctct 6300 gtcaatctgc tactacacct gcacctgcat taatggacag ttctgatcat acatctcggg 6360 gagaaccatg aaacctgtta gcccaaatgc tcaggtagga gggcaacgtc ctgttaacgc 6420 gcctgaggaa tcacctccat gtccttcatt gccacatccg gaaaccaata tggagagtgg 6480 tagaatagga cctcaacaag gaaaagagcg ggtattggcc ggacttgcga aacgagtgat 6540 agagtgtttt ccaaaagaaa tttttagttg gcaaacggtt attttgggcg gacagatttt 6600 atgctgttcc gctggaatag cattaacagt gctaagtggt ggaggcgcgc cgctcgtagc 6660 cctggcaggg attggccttg ctattgccat cgcggatgtc gcctgtctta tctaccatca 6720 taaacatcat ttgcctatgg ctcacgacag tataggcaat gccgtttttt atattgctaa 6780 ttgtttcgcc aatcaacgca aaagtatggc gattgctaaa gccgtctccc tgggcggtag 6840 attagcctta accgcgacgg taatgactca ttcatactgg agtggtagtt tgggactaca 6900 gcctcattta ttagagcgtc ttaatgatat tacctatgga ctaatgagtt ttactcgctt 6960 cggtatggat gggatggcaa tgaccggtat gcaggtcagc agcccattat atcgtttgct 7020 ggctcaggta acgccagaac aacgtgcgcc ggagtaatcg ttttcaggta tataccggat 7080 gttcattgct ttctaaattt tgctatgttg ccagtatcct tacgatgtat ttattttaag 7140 gaaaagcatt atggatattg cacaattagt ggatatgctc tcccacatgg cgcaccaggc 7200 aggccaggcc attaatgaca aaatgaatgg taatgatttg ctcaacccag aatcgatgat 7260 taaagcgcaa tttgccttac agcagtattc tacatttatt aattacgaaa gttcactgat 7320 caaaatgatc aaggatatgc ttagtggaat cattgctaaa atctgaagtt attagcgacg 7380 atgttcgacg gttgctgctg gaaatcatgt ttgcgggcgt taaccatagc ctgatttccc 7440 aggtacatgc gatgttacca gcgctaacgg ttattgttcc ggataaaaaa ttacagttgg 7500 tatgtctggc attattgttg gcgggtttaa atgagccgct aaaagccgcg aaaattttat 7560 cggatataga tttgccagag gctatggcgc tgcgtctgtt atttcctgca ccaaatgagg 7620 ggtttgaaaa ttgaatattt ctgatatgag cgtagtgcct gtaagcactc aatcttatgt 7680 aaagtcctct gcagaaccga gccaggagca aattaatttt tttgaacaat tgctgaaaga 7740 tgaagcatcc accagtaacg ccagtgcttt attaccgcag gttatgttga ccagacaaat 7800 ggattatatg cagttaacgg taggcgtcga ttatcttgcc agaatatcag gcgcagcatc 7860 gcaagcgctt aataagctgg ataacatggc atgaaggttc atcgtatagt atttcttact 7920 gtccttacgt tctttcttac ggcatgtgat gtggatcttt atcgctcatt gccagaagat 7980 gaagcgaatc aaatgctggc attacttatg cagcatcata ttgatgcgga aaaaaaacag 8040 gaagaggatg gtgtaacctt acgtgtcgag cagtcgcagt ttattaatgc ggttgagcta 8100 cttagactta acggttatcc gcataggcag tttacaacgg cggataagat gtttccggct 8160 aatcagttag tggtatcacc ccaggaagaa cagcagaaga ttaatttttt aaaagaacaa 8220 agaattgaag gaatgctgag tcagatggag ggcgtgatta atgcaaaagt gaccattgcg 8280 ctaccgactt atgatgaggg aagtaacgct tctccgagct cagttgccgt atttataaaa 8340 tattcacctc aggtcaatat ggaggccttt cgggtaaaaa ttaaagattt aatagagatg 8400 tcaatccctg ggttgcaata cagtaagatt agtatcttga tgcagcctgc tgaattc 8457 <210> SEQ ID NO 2 <211> LENGTH: 3921 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 2 agcattgaca taaaaactta caatttgaaa aattatttat taaataaact gttacgatgt 60 ttttacatcg ccatcttatt aaaaagtaat tgtagtcatc gactgggtta tatatgaaga 120 aatttatctt cctaatgata acaccatcga ttaatcttct gatgaaacta tatgtactgc 180 gatagtgatc aagtgccaaa gattttgcaa caggcaactg gagggaagca ttatgaattt 240 gctcaatctc aagaatacgc tgcaaacatc tttagtaatc aggctaactt ttttattttt 300 attaacaaca ataattattt ggctgctatc tgtgcttacc gcagcttata tatcaatggt 360 tcagaaacgg cagcatataa tagaggattt atccgttcta tccgagatga atattgtact 420 aagcaatcaa cggtttgaag aagctgaacg tgacgctaaa aatttaatgt atcaatgctc 480 attagcgact gagattcatc ataacgatat tttccctgag gtgagccggc atctatctgt 540 cggtccttca aattgcacgc cgacgctaaa cggagagaag caccgtctct ttctgcagtc 600 ctctgatatc gatgaaaata gctttcgtcg cgatagtttt attcttaatc ataaaaatga 660 gatttcgtta ttatctactg ataacccttc agattattca actctacagc ctttaacgcg 720 aaaaagcttt cctttatacc caacccatgc cgggttttac tggagtgaac cagaatacat 780 aaacggcaaa ggatggcacg cttccgttgc ggttgccgat cagcaaggcg tattttttga 840 ggtgacggtt aaacttcccg atctcattac taagagccac ctgccattag atgatagtat 900 tcgagtatgg ctggatcaaa acaaccactt attgccgttt tcatacatcc cgcaaaaaat 960 acgtacacag ttagaaaatg taacgctgca tgatggatgg cagcaaattc ccggatttct 1020 gatattacgc acaaccttgc atggccccgg atggagtctg gttacgctgt acccatacgg 1080 taatctacat aatcgcatct taaaaattat ccttcaacaa atccccttta cattaacagc 1140 attggtgttg atgacgtcgg ctttttgctg gttactacat cgctcactgg ccaaaccgtt 1200 atggcgtttt gtcgatgtca ttaataaaac cgcaactgca ccgctgagca cacgtttacc 1260 agcacaacga ctggatgaat tagatagtat tgccggtgct tttaaccaac tgcttgatac 1320 tctacaagtc caatacgaca atctggaaaa caaagtcgca gagcgcaccc aggcgctaaa 1380 tgaagcaaaa aaacgcgctg agcgagctaa caaacgtaaa agcattcatc ttacggtaat 1440 aagtcatgag ttacgtactc cgatgaatgg cgtactcggt gcaattgaat tattacaaac 1500 caccccttta aacatagagc aacaaggatt agctgatacc gccagaaatt gtacactgtc 1560 tttgttagct attattaata atctgctgga tttttcacgc atcgagtctg gtcatttcac 1620 attacatatg gaagaaacag cgttactgcc gttactggac caggcaatgc aaaccatcca 1680 ggggccagcg caaagcaaaa aactgtcatt acgtactttt gtcggtcaac atgtccctct 1740 ctattttcat accgacagta tccgtttacg gcaaattttg gttaatttac tcgggaacgc 1800 ggtaaaattt accgaaaccg gagggatacg tctgacggtc aagcgtcatg aggaacaatt 1860 aatatttctg gttagcgata gcggtaaagg gattgaaata cagcagcagt ctcaaatctt 1920 tactgctttt tatcaagcag acacaaattc gcaaggtaca ggaattggac tgactattgc 1980 gtcaagcctg gctaaaatga tgggcggtaa tctgacacta aaaagtgtcc ccggggttgg 2040 aacctgtgtc tcgctagtat tacccttaca agaataccag ccgcctcaac caattaaagg 2100 gacgctgtca gcgccgttct gcctgcatcg gcaactggct tgctggggaa tacgcggtga 2160 accaccccac cagcaaaatg cgcttctcaa cgcagagctt ttgtatttct ccggaaaact 2220 ctacgacctg gcgcaacagt taatattgtg tacaccaaat atgccagtaa taaataattt 2280 gttaccaccc tggcagttgc agattctttt ggttgatgat gccgatatta atcgggatat 2340 catcggcaaa atgcttgtca gcctgggcca acacgtcact attgccgcca gtagtaacga 2400 ggctctgact ttatcacaac agcagcgatt cgatttagta ctgattgaca ttagaatgcc 2460 agaaatagat ggtattgaat gtgtacgatt atggcatgat gagccgaata atttagatcc 2520 tgactgcatg tttgtggcac tatccgctag cgtagcgaca gaagatattc atcgttgtaa 2580 aaaaaatggg attcatcatt acattacaaa accagtgaca ttggctacct tagctcgcta 2640 catcagtatt gccgcagaat accaactttt acgaaatata gagctacagg agcaggatcc 2700 gagtcgctgc tcagcgctac tggcgacaga tgatatggtc attaatagca agattttcca 2760 atcactggac ctcttgctgg ctgatattga aaatgccgta tcggctggag aaaaaatcga 2820 tcagttaatt cacacattaa aaggctgttt aggtcaaata gggcagactg aattggtatg 2880 ctatgtcata gacattgaga atcgcgtaaa aatggggaaa atcatcgcgc tggaggaact 2940 aaccgactta cgccagaaaa tacgtatgat cttcaaaaac tacaccatta cttaatatta 3000 tcttaatttt cgcgagggca gcaaaatgaa agaatataag atcttattag tagacgatca 3060 tgaaatcatc attaacggca ttatgaatgc cttattaccc tggcctcatt ttaaaattgt 3120 agagcatgtt aaaaatggtc ttgaggttta taatgcctgt tgtgcatacg agcctgacat 3180 acttatcctt gatcttagtc tacctggcat caatggcctg gatatcattc ctcaattaca 3240 tcagcgttgg ccagcaatga atattctggt ttacacagca taccaacaag agtatatgac 3300 cattaaaact ttagccgcag gtgctaatgg ctatgtttta aaaagcagta gtcagcaagt 3360 tctgttagcg gcattgcaaa cagtagcagt aaacaagcgt tacattgacc caacgttgaa 3420 tcgggaagct atcctggctg aattaaacgc tgacacgacc aatcatcaac tgcttacttt 3480 gcgcgagcgt caggttctta aacttattga cgaggggtat accaatcatg ggatcagcga 3540 aaagctacat atcagtataa aaaccgtcga aacacaccgg atgaatatga tgagaaagct 3600 acaggttcat aaagtgacag agttacttaa ctgtgcccga agaatgaggt taatagagta 3660 ttaaccaggg gcgtccgatg gtattaagca ttggtcatat tttgatgagc cttacgccac 3720 gcagtattgc tcatcatcga caaaatccat acggatgccc tggtatgccg caccatttat 3780 cactacctta gtcttcattt gatcatgata tagtagaatc cccttattta acgggcttta 3840 ccatgtcgta ttctatcggc gaatttgcca gactatgcgg tatcaatgcc gccacgctaa 3900 gggcatggca gcgacgctat g 3921 <210> SEQ ID NO 3 <211> LENGTH: 327 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(324) <400> SEQUENCE: 3 atg atg ata aag aaa aag gct gcg ttt agt gaa tat cgt gat tta gag 48 Met Met Ile Lys Lys Lys Ala Ala Phe Ser Glu Tyr Arg Asp Leu Glu 1 5 10 15 caa agt tac atg cag cta aat cac tgt ctt aaa aaa ttt cac caa atc 96 Gln Ser Tyr Met Gln Leu Asn His Cys Leu Lys Lys Phe His Gln Ile 20 25 30 cgg gct aag gtg agt caa cag ctt gct gaa agg gca gag agc ccc aaa 144 Arg Ala Lys Val Ser Gln Gln Leu Ala Glu Arg Ala Glu Ser Pro Lys 35 40 45 aat agc aga gag aca gag agt att ctt cat aac cta ttt cca caa ggc 192 Asn Ser Arg Glu Thr Glu Ser Ile Leu His Asn Leu Phe Pro Gln Gly 50 55 60 gtt gcc ggg gtt aac cag gag gcc gag aag gat tta aag aaa ata gta 240 Val Ala Gly Val Asn Gln Glu Ala Glu Lys Asp Leu Lys Lys Ile Val 65 70 75 80 agt ttg ttt aaa caa ctt gaa gta cga ctg aaa caa ctt aat gct caa 288 Ser Leu Phe Lys Gln Leu Glu Val Arg Leu Lys Gln Leu Asn Ala Gln 85 90 95 gcc ccg gtg gag ata ccg tca gga aaa aca aaa agg taa 327 Ala Pro Val Glu Ile Pro Ser Gly Lys Thr Lys Arg 100 105 <210> SEQ ID NO 4 <211> LENGTH: 108 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 4 Met Met Ile Lys Lys Lys Ala Ala Phe Ser Glu Tyr Arg Asp Leu Glu 1 5 10 15 Gln Ser Tyr Met Gln Leu Asn His Cys Leu Lys Lys Phe His Gln Ile 20 25 30 Arg Ala Lys Val Ser Gln Gln Leu Ala Glu Arg Ala Glu Ser Pro Lys 35 40 45 Asn Ser Arg Glu Thr Glu Ser Ile Leu His Asn Leu Phe Pro Gln Gly 50 55 60 Val Ala Gly Val Asn Gln Glu Ala Glu Lys Asp Leu Lys Lys Ile Val 65 70 75 80 Ser Leu Phe Lys Gln Leu Glu Val Arg Leu Lys Gln Leu Asn Ala Gln 85 90 95 Ala Pro Val Glu Ile Pro Ser Gly Lys Thr Lys Arg 100 105 <210> SEQ ID NO 5 <211> LENGTH: 591 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(588) <400> SEQUENCE: 5 atg tct tca gga aac atc tta tgg gga agt caa aac cct att gtg ttt 48 Met Ser Ser Gly Asn Ile Leu Trp Gly Ser Gln Asn Pro Ile Val Phe 1 5 10 15 aaa aat agc ttc ggc gtc agc aac gct gat acc ggg agc cag gat gac 96 Lys Asn Ser Phe Gly Val Ser Asn Ala Asp Thr Gly Ser Gln Asp Asp 20 25 30 tta tcc cag caa aat ccg ttt gcc gaa ggg tat ggt gtt ttg ctt att 144 Leu Ser Gln Gln Asn Pro Phe Ala Glu Gly Tyr Gly Val Leu Leu Ile 35 40 45 ctc ctt atg gtt att cag gct atc gca aat aat aaa ttt att gaa gtc 192 Leu Leu Met Val Ile Gln Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Lys Phe Ile Glu Val 50 55 60 cag aag aac gct gaa cgt gcc aga aat acc cag gaa aag tca aat gag 240 Gln Lys Asn Ala Glu Arg Ala Arg Asn Thr Gln Glu Lys Ser Asn Glu 65 70 75 80 atg gat gag gtg att gct aaa gca gcc aaa ggg gat gct aaa acc aaa 288 Met Asp Glu Val Ile Ala Lys Ala Ala Lys Gly Asp Ala Lys Thr Lys 85 90 95 gag gag gtg cct gag gat gta att aaa tac atg cgt gat aat ggt att 336 Glu Glu Val Pro Glu Asp Val Ile Lys Tyr Met Arg Asp Asn Gly Ile 100 105 110 ctc atc gat ggt atg acc att gat gat tat atg gct aaa tat ggc gat 384 Leu Ile Asp Gly Met Thr Ile Asp Asp Tyr Met Ala Lys Tyr Gly Asp 115 120 125 cat ggg aag ctg gat aaa ggt ggc cta cag gcg atc aaa gcg gct ttg 432 His Gly Lys Leu Asp Lys Gly Gly Leu Gln Ala Ile Lys Ala Ala Leu 130 135 140 gat aat gac gcc aac cgg aat acc gat ctt atg agt cag ggg cag ata 480 Asp Asn Asp Ala Asn Arg Asn Thr Asp Leu Met Ser Gln Gly Gln Ile 145 150 155 160 aca att caa aaa atg tct cag gag ctt aac gct gtc ctt acc caa ctg 528 Thr Ile Gln Lys Met Ser Gln Glu Leu Asn Ala Val Leu Thr Gln Leu 165 170 175 aca ggg ctt atc agt aag tgg ggg gaa att tcc agt atg ata gcg cag 576 Thr Gly Leu Ile Ser Lys Trp Gly Glu Ile Ser Ser Met Ile Ala Gln 180 185 190 aaa acg tac tca tga 591 Lys Thr Tyr Ser 195 <210> SEQ ID NO 6 <211> LENGTH: 196 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 6 Met Ser Ser Gly Asn Ile Leu Trp Gly Ser Gln Asn Pro Ile Val Phe 1 5 10 15 Lys Asn Ser Phe Gly Val Ser Asn Ala Asp Thr Gly Ser Gln Asp Asp 20 25 30 Leu Ser Gln Gln Asn Pro Phe Ala Glu Gly Tyr Gly Val Leu Leu Ile 35 40 45 Leu Leu Met Val Ile Gln Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Lys Phe Ile Glu Val 50 55 60 Gln Lys Asn Ala Glu Arg Ala Arg Asn Thr Gln Glu Lys Ser Asn Glu 65 70 75 80 Met Asp Glu Val Ile Ala Lys Ala Ala Lys Gly Asp Ala Lys Thr Lys 85 90 95 Glu Glu Val Pro Glu Asp Val Ile Lys Tyr Met Arg Asp Asn Gly Ile 100 105 110 Leu Ile Asp Gly Met Thr Ile Asp Asp Tyr Met Ala Lys Tyr Gly Asp 115 120 125 His Gly Lys Leu Asp Lys Gly Gly Leu Gln Ala Ile Lys Ala Ala Leu 130 135 140 Asp Asn Asp Ala Asn Arg Asn Thr Asp Leu Met Ser Gln Gly Gln Ile 145 150 155 160 Thr Ile Gln Lys Met Ser Gln Glu Leu Asn Ala Val Leu Thr Gln Leu 165 170 175 Thr Gly Leu Ile Ser Lys Trp Gly Glu Ile Ser Ser Met Ile Ala Gln 180 185 190 Lys Thr Tyr Ser 195 <210> SEQ ID NO 7 <211> LENGTH: 1455 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(1452) <400> SEQUENCE: 7 atg aat cga att cac agt aat agc gac agc gcc gca gga gta acc gcc 48 Met Asn Arg Ile His Ser Asn Ser Asp Ser Ala Ala Gly Val Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 tta aca cat cat cac tta agc aat gtc agt tgc gtt tcc tcg ggt tcg 96 Leu Thr His His His Leu Ser Asn Val Ser Cys Val Ser Ser Gly Ser 20 25 30 ctg gga aag cgc cag cat cgt gtg aat tct act ttt ggc gat ggc aac 144 Leu Gly Lys Arg Gln His Arg Val Asn Ser Thr Phe Gly Asp Gly Asn 35 40 45 gcc gcg tgt ctg cta tcc ggg aaa att agt ctt cag gag gca agc aat 192 Ala Ala Cys Leu Leu Ser Gly Lys Ile Ser Leu Gln Glu Ala Ser Asn 50 55 60 gcg ttg aag caa ctg ctt gat gcc gta ccc gga aat cat aag cgt cca 240 Ala Leu Lys Gln Leu Leu Asp Ala Val Pro Gly Asn His Lys Arg Pro 65 70 75 80 tca ttg cct gac ttt ttg cag acc aat ccc gcg gtt tta tca atg atg 288 Ser Leu Pro Asp Phe Leu Gln Thr Asn Pro Ala Val Leu Ser Met Met 85 90 95 atg acg tca tta ata ctc aac gtc ttt ggt aat aac gct caa tcg tta 336 Met Thr Ser Leu Ile Leu Asn Val Phe Gly Asn Asn Ala Gln Ser Leu 100 105 110 tgc caa cag ctt gag cgg gca act gag gtg caa aat gca tta cgt aat 384 Cys Gln Gln Leu Glu Arg Ala Thr Glu Val Gln Asn Ala Leu Arg Asn 115 120 125 aag cag gta aag gag tat cag gag cag atc cag aaa gcg ata gag cag 432 Lys Gln Val Lys Glu Tyr Gln Glu Gln Ile Gln Lys Ala Ile Glu Gln 130 135 140 gag gat aaa gcg cgt aaa gcg ggt att ttt ggc gct att ttt gac tgg 480 Glu Asp Lys Ala Arg Lys Ala Gly Ile Phe Gly Ala Ile Phe Asp Trp 145 150 155 160 att acc ggc ata ttt gaa acc gtg att ggc gcc tta aaa gtt gtg gaa 528 Ile Thr Gly Ile Phe Glu Thr Val Ile Gly Ala Leu Lys Val Val Glu 165 170 175 ggt ttt ctg tcc gga aat ccc gca gaa atg gct agc ggc gta gct tat 576 Gly Phe Leu Ser Gly Asn Pro Ala Glu Met Ala Ser Gly Val Ala Tyr 180 185 190 atg gcc gca ggt tgt gca gga atg gtt aaa gcc gga gcc gaa acg gca 624 Met Ala Ala Gly Cys Ala Gly Met Val Lys Ala Gly Ala Glu Thr Ala 195 200 205 atg atg tgc ggt gct gac cac gat acc tgt cag gca att att gac gtg 672 Met Met Cys Gly Ala Asp His Asp Thr Cys Gln Ala Ile Ile Asp Val 210 215 220 aca agt aag att caa ttt ggt tgt gaa gcc gtc gcg ctg gca ctg gat 720 Thr Ser Lys Ile Gln Phe Gly Cys Glu Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Leu Asp 225 230 235 240 gtt ttc cag att ggc cgt gct ttt atg gcg acg aga ggt tta tct ggc 768 Val Phe Gln Ile Gly Arg Ala Phe Met Ala Thr Arg Gly Leu Ser Gly 245 250 255 gca gct gca aaa gtg ctt gac tcc ggt ttt ggc gag gaa gtg gtt gag 816 Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Leu Asp Ser Gly Phe Gly Glu Glu Val Val Glu 260 265 270 cgt atg gta ggt gca ggg gaa gca gaa ata gag gag ttg gct gaa aag 864 Arg Met Val Gly Ala Gly Glu Ala Glu Ile Glu Glu Leu Ala Glu Lys 275 280 285 ttt ggc gaa gaa gtg agc gaa agt ttt tcc aaa caa ttt gag ccg ctt 912 Phe Gly Glu Glu Val Ser Glu Ser Phe Ser Lys Gln Phe Glu Pro Leu 290 295 300 gaa cgt gaa atg gct atg gcg aat gag atg gca gag gag gct gcc gag 960 Glu Arg Glu Met Ala Met Ala Asn Glu Met Ala Glu Glu Ala Ala Glu 305 310 315 320 ttt tct cgt aac gta gaa aat aat atg acg cga agc gcg gga aaa agc 1008 Phe Ser Arg Asn Val Glu Asn Asn Met Thr Arg Ser Ala Gly Lys Ser 325 330 335 ttt acg aaa gag ggg gtg aaa gcc atg gca aaa gaa gcg gca aaa gaa 1056 Phe Thr Lys Glu Gly Val Lys Ala Met Ala Lys Glu Ala Ala Lys Glu 340 345 350 gcc ctg gaa aaa tgt gtg caa gaa ggt gga aag ttc ctg tta aaa aaa 1104 Ala Leu Glu Lys Cys Val Gln Glu Gly Gly Lys Phe Leu Leu Lys Lys 355 360 365 ttc cgt aat aaa gtt ctc ttc aat atg ttc aaa aaa atc ctg tat gcc 1152 Phe Arg Asn Lys Val Leu Phe Asn Met Phe Lys Lys Ile Leu Tyr Ala 370 375 380 tta ctg agg gat tgt tca ttt aaa ggc tta cag gct atc aga tgt gca 1200 Leu Leu Arg Asp Cys Ser Phe Lys Gly Leu Gln Ala Ile Arg Cys Ala 385 390 395 400 acc gag ggc gcc agt cag atg aat act ggc atg gtt aac aca gaa aaa 1248 Thr Glu Gly Ala Ser Gln Met Asn Thr Gly Met Val Asn Thr Glu Lys 405 410 415 gcg aag atc gaa aag aaa ata gag caa tta ata act cag caa cgg ttt 1296 Ala Lys Ile Glu Lys Lys Ile Glu Gln Leu Ile Thr Gln Gln Arg Phe 420 425 430 ctg gat ttc ata atg caa caa aca gaa aac cag aaa aag ata gaa caa 1344 Leu Asp Phe Ile Met Gln Gln Thr Glu Asn Gln Lys Lys Ile Glu Gln 435 440 445 aaa cgc tta gag gag ctt tat aag ggg acg ggt gcc gcg ctt aga gat 1392 Lys Arg Leu Glu Glu Leu Tyr Lys Gly Thr Gly Ala Ala Leu Arg Asp 450 455 460 gta tta gat acc att gat cac tat agt agc gtt cag gcg aga ata gct 1440 Val Leu Asp Thr Ile Asp His Tyr Ser Ser Val Gln Ala Arg Ile Ala 465 470 475 480 ggc tat cgc gct taa 1455 Gly Tyr Arg Ala <210> SEQ ID NO 8 <211> LENGTH: 484 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 8 Met Asn Arg Ile His Ser Asn Ser Asp Ser Ala Ala Gly Val Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Thr His His His Leu Ser Asn Val Ser Cys Val Ser Ser Gly Ser 20 25 30 Leu Gly Lys Arg Gln His Arg Val Asn Ser Thr Phe Gly Asp Gly Asn 35 40 45 Ala Ala Cys Leu Leu Ser Gly Lys Ile Ser Leu Gln Glu Ala Ser Asn 50 55 60 Ala Leu Lys Gln Leu Leu Asp Ala Val Pro Gly Asn His Lys Arg Pro 65 70 75 80 Ser Leu Pro Asp Phe Leu Gln Thr Asn Pro Ala Val Leu Ser Met Met 85 90 95 Met Thr Ser Leu Ile Leu Asn Val Phe Gly Asn Asn Ala Gln Ser Leu 100 105 110 Cys Gln Gln Leu Glu Arg Ala Thr Glu Val Gln Asn Ala Leu Arg Asn 115 120 125 Lys Gln Val Lys Glu Tyr Gln Glu Gln Ile Gln Lys Ala Ile Glu Gln 130 135 140 Glu Asp Lys Ala Arg Lys Ala Gly Ile Phe Gly Ala Ile Phe Asp Trp 145 150 155 160 Ile Thr Gly Ile Phe Glu Thr Val Ile Gly Ala Leu Lys Val Val Glu 165 170 175 Gly Phe Leu Ser Gly Asn Pro Ala Glu Met Ala Ser Gly Val Ala Tyr 180 185 190 Met Ala Ala Gly Cys Ala Gly Met Val Lys Ala Gly Ala Glu Thr Ala 195 200 205 Met Met Cys Gly Ala Asp His Asp Thr Cys Gln Ala Ile Ile Asp Val 210 215 220 Thr Ser Lys Ile Gln Phe Gly Cys Glu Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Leu Asp 225 230 235 240 Val Phe Gln Ile Gly Arg Ala Phe Met Ala Thr Arg Gly Leu Ser Gly 245 250 255 Ala Ala Ala Lys Val Leu Asp Ser Gly Phe Gly Glu Glu Val Val Glu 260 265 270 Arg Met Val Gly Ala Gly Glu Ala Glu Ile Glu Glu Leu Ala Glu Lys 275 280 285 Phe Gly Glu Glu Val Ser Glu Ser Phe Ser Lys Gln Phe Glu Pro Leu 290 295 300 Glu Arg Glu Met Ala Met Ala Asn Glu Met Ala Glu Glu Ala Ala Glu 305 310 315 320 Phe Ser Arg Asn Val Glu Asn Asn Met Thr Arg Ser Ala Gly Lys Ser 325 330 335 Phe Thr Lys Glu Gly Val Lys Ala Met Ala Lys Glu Ala Ala Lys Glu 340 345 350 Ala Leu Glu Lys Cys Val Gln Glu Gly Gly Lys Phe Leu Leu Lys Lys 355 360 365 Phe Arg Asn Lys Val Leu Phe Asn Met Phe Lys Lys Ile Leu Tyr Ala 370 375 380 Leu Leu Arg Asp Cys Ser Phe Lys Gly Leu Gln Ala Ile Arg Cys Ala 385 390 395 400 Thr Glu Gly Ala Ser Gln Met Asn Thr Gly Met Val Asn Thr Glu Lys 405 410 415 Ala Lys Ile Glu Lys Lys Ile Glu Gln Leu Ile Thr Gln Gln Arg Phe 420 425 430 Leu Asp Phe Ile Met Gln Gln Thr Glu Asn Gln Lys Lys Ile Glu Gln 435 440 445 Lys Arg Leu Glu Glu Leu Tyr Lys Gly Thr Gly Ala Ala Leu Arg Asp 450 455 460 Val Leu Asp Thr Ile Asp His Tyr Ser Ser Val Gln Ala Arg Ile Ala 465 470 475 480 Gly Tyr Arg Ala <210> SEQ ID NO 9 <211> LENGTH: 504 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(501) <400> SEQUENCE: 9 atg ggt act gaa tca atg ctt ctg tta ttt gat gat atc tgg atg aag 48 Met Gly Thr Glu Ser Met Leu Leu Leu Phe Asp Asp Ile Trp Met Lys 1 5 10 15 cta atg gag ctt gcc aaa aag ctg cgc gat atc atg cgc agc tat aac 96 Leu Met Glu Leu Ala Lys Lys Leu Arg Asp Ile Met Arg Ser Tyr Asn 20 25 30 gta gaa aaa caa cgg ctg gcc tgg gaa ctg caa gtc aat gtt tta cag 144 Val Glu Lys Gln Arg Leu Ala Trp Glu Leu Gln Val Asn Val Leu Gln 35 40 45 acg caa atg aaa aca att gat gaa gcg ttt aga gca tca atg att act 192 Thr Gln Met Lys Thr Ile Asp Glu Ala Phe Arg Ala Ser Met Ile Thr 50 55 60 gcg ggt ggc gca atg ttg tcg ggt gta ctg acg ata gga tta ggg gcc 240 Ala Gly Gly Ala Met Leu Ser Gly Val Leu Thr Ile Gly Leu Gly Ala 65 70 75 80 gta ggc ggg gaa acc ggt ctt ata gcg ggt caa gcc gta ggc cac aca 288 Val Gly Gly Glu Thr Gly Leu Ile Ala Gly Gln Ala Val Gly His Thr 85 90 95 gct ggg ggc gtc atg ggc ctg ggg gct ggt gta gcg caa cgt caa agt 336 Ala Gly Gly Val Met Gly Leu Gly Ala Gly Val Ala Gln Arg Gln Ser 100 105 110 gat caa gat aaa gcg att gcc gac ctg caa caa aat ggg gcc caa tct 384 Asp Gln Asp Lys Ala Ile Ala Asp Leu Gln Gln Asn Gly Ala Gln Ser 115 120 125 tat aat aaa tcc ctg acg gaa att atg gag aaa gca act gaa att atg 432 Tyr Asn Lys Ser Leu Thr Glu Ile Met Glu Lys Ala Thr Glu Ile Met 130 135 140 cag caa atc atc ggc gtg ggg tcg tca ctg gtc acg gtt ctt gct gaa 480 Gln Gln Ile Ile Gly Val Gly Ser Ser Leu Val Thr Val Leu Ala Glu 145 150 155 160 ata ctc cgg gca tta acg agg taa 504 Ile Leu Arg Ala Leu Thr Arg 165 <210> SEQ ID NO 10 <211> LENGTH: 167 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 10 Met Gly Thr Glu Ser Met Leu Leu Leu Phe Asp Asp Ile Trp Met Lys 1 5 10 15 Leu Met Glu Leu Ala Lys Lys Leu Arg Asp Ile Met Arg Ser Tyr Asn 20 25 30 Val Glu Lys Gln Arg Leu Ala Trp Glu Leu Gln Val Asn Val Leu Gln 35 40 45 Thr Gln Met Lys Thr Ile Asp Glu Ala Phe Arg Ala Ser Met Ile Thr 50 55 60 Ala Gly Gly Ala Met Leu Ser Gly Val Leu Thr Ile Gly Leu Gly Ala 65 70 75 80 Val Gly Gly Glu Thr Gly Leu Ile Ala Gly Gln Ala Val Gly His Thr 85 90 95 Ala Gly Gly Val Met Gly Leu Gly Ala Gly Val Ala Gln Arg Gln Ser 100 105 110 Asp Gln Asp Lys Ala Ile Ala Asp Leu Gln Gln Asn Gly Ala Gln Ser 115 120 125 Tyr Asn Lys Ser Leu Thr Glu Ile Met Glu Lys Ala Thr Glu Ile Met 130 135 140 Gln Gln Ile Ile Gly Val Gly Ser Ser Leu Val Thr Val Leu Ala Glu 145 150 155 160 Ile Leu Arg Ala Leu Thr Arg 165 <210> SEQ ID NO 11 <211> LENGTH: 195 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 11 Met Glu Ala Ser Asn Val Ala Leu Val Leu Pro Ala Pro Ser Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Thr Pro Ser Ser Thr Pro Ser Pro Ser Gly Glu Gly Met Gly Thr Glu 20 25 30 Ser Met Leu Leu Leu Phe Asp Asp Ile Trp Met Lys Leu Met Glu Leu 35 40 45 Ala Lys Lys Leu Arg Asp Ile Met Arg Ser Tyr Asn Val Glu Lys Gln 50 55 60 Arg Leu Ala Trp Glu Leu Gln Val Asn Val Leu Gln Thr Gln Met Lys 65 70 75 80 Thr Ile Asp Glu Ala Phe Arg Ala Ser Met Ile Thr Ala Gly Gly Ala 85 90 95 Met Leu Ser Gly Val Leu Thr Ile Gly Leu Gly Ala Val Gly Gly Glu 100 105 110 Thr Gly Leu Ile Ala Gly Gln Ala Val Gly His Thr Ala Gly Gly Val 115 120 125 Met Gly Leu Gly Ala Gly Val Ala Gln Arg Gln Ser Asp Gln Asp Lys 130 135 140 Ala Ile Ala Asp Leu Gln Gln Asn Gly Ala Gln Ser Tyr Asn Lys Ser 145 150 155 160 Leu Thr Glu Ile Met Glu Lys Ala Thr Glu Ile Met Gln Gln Ile Ile 165 170 175 Gly Val Gly Ser Ser Leu Val Thr Val Leu Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Ala 180 185 190 Leu Thr Arg 195 <210> SEQ ID NO 12 <211> LENGTH: 417 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(414) <400> SEQUENCE: 12 atg gtg caa gaa ata gag caa tgg tta cgt cgg cat cag gtg ttt act 48 Met Val Gln Glu Ile Glu Gln Trp Leu Arg Arg His Gln Val Phe Thr 1 5 10 15 gag cct gca tat tta ggg gag acc gcc ata tta ctt ggg cag cag ttt 96 Glu Pro Ala Tyr Leu Gly Glu Thr Ala Ile Leu Leu Gly Gln Gln Phe 20 25 30 ata tta tcg cct tac ctg gtg atc tat cgt att gag gca aaa gaa atg 144 Ile Leu Ser Pro Tyr Leu Val Ile Tyr Arg Ile Glu Ala Lys Glu Met 35 40 45 att att tgt gag ttc agg cgc ctg acg ccc ggg caa cct cga cca cag 192 Ile Ile Cys Glu Phe Arg Arg Leu Thr Pro Gly Gln Pro Arg Pro Gln 50 55 60 caa ttg ttt cac tta ctg gga ctt tta cgc ggg ata ttt gtg cat cac 240 Gln Leu Phe His Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Arg Gly Ile Phe Val His His 65 70 75 80 ccg cag tta aca tgt tta aag atg ttg ata atc acc gac gtt ctg gat 288 Pro Gln Leu Thr Cys Leu Lys Met Leu Ile Ile Thr Asp Val Leu Asp 85 90 95 gaa aaa aaa gcc atg cta cgc agg aaa tta ttg cgc atc ctg aca gta 336 Glu Lys Lys Ala Met Leu Arg Arg Lys Leu Leu Arg Ile Leu Thr Val 100 105 110 atg gga gcg acc ttt aca cag ctt gat ggc gat aac tgg aca gtt tta 384 Met Gly Ala Thr Phe Thr Gln Leu Asp Gly Asp Asn Trp Thr Val Leu 115 120 125 tcc gcc gag cat ctt atc cag cga cgt ttt taa 417 Ser Ala Glu His Leu Ile Gln Arg Arg Phe 130 135 <210> SEQ ID NO 13 <211> LENGTH: 138 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 13 Met Val Gln Glu Ile Glu Gln Trp Leu Arg Arg His Gln Val Phe Thr 1 5 10 15 Glu Pro Ala Tyr Leu Gly Glu Thr Ala Ile Leu Leu Gly Gln Gln Phe 20 25 30 Ile Leu Ser Pro Tyr Leu Val Ile Tyr Arg Ile Glu Ala Lys Glu Met 35 40 45 Ile Ile Cys Glu Phe Arg Arg Leu Thr Pro Gly Gln Pro Arg Pro Gln 50 55 60 Gln Leu Phe His Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Arg Gly Ile Phe Val His His 65 70 75 80 Pro Gln Leu Thr Cys Leu Lys Met Leu Ile Ile Thr Asp Val Leu Asp 85 90 95 Glu Lys Lys Ala Met Leu Arg Arg Lys Leu Leu Arg Ile Leu Thr Val 100 105 110 Met Gly Ala Thr Phe Thr Gln Leu Asp Gly Asp Asn Trp Thr Val Leu 115 120 125 Ser Ala Glu His Leu Ile Gln Arg Arg Phe 130 135 <210> SEQ ID NO 14 <211> LENGTH: 789 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(786) <400> SEQUENCE: 14 atg aaa att cat att ccg tca gcg gca agt aat ata gtc gat ggt aat 48 Met Lys Ile His Ile Pro Ser Ala Ala Ser Asn Ile Val Asp Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 agt cct cct tcc gat ata caa gcg aag gag gta tcg ttt cct ccc cct 96 Ser Pro Pro Ser Asp Ile Gln Ala Lys Glu Val Ser Phe Pro Pro Pro 20 25 30 tgaa att cca gcg cct ggc acc ccc gca gcc cct gtg ctg ctt acg cct 144 Glu Ile Pro Ala Pro Gly Thr Pro Ala Ala Pro Val Leu Leu Thr Pro 35 40 45 tgaa caa ata agg cag cag agg gat tat gcg ata cat ttt atg caa tac 192 Glu Gln Ile Arg Gln Gln Arg Asp Tyr Ala Ile His Phe Met Gln Tyr 50 55 60 tact att cgt gcg ctg ggt gcg aca gtc gtg ttt ggg tta tcg gtt gct 240 Thr Ile Arg Ala Leu Gly Ala Thr Val Val Phe Gly Leu Ser Val Ala 65 70 75 80 tgca gcg gta att tct ggc ggg gca gga tta ccc att gct att ctt gcg 288 Ala Ala Val Ile Ser Gly Gly Ala Gly Leu Pro Ile Ala Ile Leu Ala 85 90 95 tggg gcg gcg ctc gtg att gct att ggg gat gct tgc tgt gcg tat cat 336 Gly Ala Ala Leu Val Ile Ala Ile Gly Asp Ala Cys Cys Ala Tyr His 100 105 110 taat tat caa tcg ata tgt cag caa aag gag cca tta caa acc gcc agt 384 Asn Tyr Gln Ser Ile Cys Gln Gln Lys Glu Pro Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser 115 120 125 tgat agc gtt gct ctt gtg gtc agt gcg ctg gcc tta aaa tgt ggg gca 432 Asp Ser Val Ala Leu Val Val Ser Ala Leu Ala Leu Lys Cys Gly Ala 130 135 140 tagt ctt aac tgc gct aac acc ctt gct aat tgt ctt tct tta tta ata 480 Ser Leu Asn Cys Ala Asn Thr Leu Ala Asn Cys Leu Ser Leu Leu Ile 145 150 155 160 tcgt tca gga atc gct att tct atg ttg gtt tta ccc cta cag ttt cca 528 Arg Ser Gly Ile Ala Ile Ser Met Leu Val Leu Pro Leu Gln Phe Pro 165 170 175 tctg ccc gcg gct gaa aat att gcg gcc tct ttg gac atg ggg agt gta 576 Leu Pro Ala Ala Glu Asn Ile Ala Ala Ser Leu Asp Met Gly Ser Val 180 185 190 tatt acc tcc gtt agc ctg acg gcg ata ggt gcg gta ctg gat tat tgc 624 Ile Thr Ser Val Ser Leu Thr Ala Ile Gly Ala Val Leu Asp Tyr Cys 195 200 205 tctt gcc cgc ccc tct ggc gac gat cag gaa aat tct gtt gat gaa ctt 672 Leu Ala Arg Pro Ser Gly Asp Asp Gln Glu Asn Ser Val Asp Glu Leu 210 215 220 tcat gcc gat ccc agt gtg tta ttg gcg gaa caa atg gca gcg ctc tgt 720 His Ala Asp Pro Ser Val Leu Leu Ala Glu Gln Met Ala Ala Leu Cys 225 230 235 240 tcaa tct gct act aca cct gca cct gca tta atg gac agt tct gat cat 768 Gln Ser Ala Thr Thr Pro Ala Pro Ala Leu Met Asp Ser Ser Asp His 245 250 255 taca tct cgg gga gaa cca tga 789 Thr Ser Arg Gly Glu Pro 260 <210> SEQ ID NO 15 <211> LENGTH: 262 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 15 Met Lys Ile His Ile Pro Ser Ala Ala Ser Asn Ile Val Asp Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 Ser Pro Pro Ser Asp Ile Gln Ala Lys Glu Val Ser Phe Pro Pro Pro 20 25 30 Glu Ile Pro Ala Pro Gly Thr Pro Ala Ala Pro Val Leu Leu Thr Pro 35 40 45 Glu Gln Ile Arg Gln Gln Arg Asp Tyr Ala Ile His Phe Met Gln Tyr 50 55 60 Thr Ile Arg Ala Leu Gly Ala Thr Val Val Phe Gly Leu Ser Val Ala 65 70 75 80 Ala Ala Val Ile Ser Gly Gly Ala Gly Leu Pro Ile Ala Ile Leu Ala 85 90 95 Gly Ala Ala Leu Val Ile Ala Ile Gly Asp Ala Cys Cys Ala Tyr His 100 105 110 Asn Tyr Gln Ser Ile Cys Gln Gln Lys Glu Pro Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser 115 120 125 Asp Ser Val Ala Leu Val Val Ser Ala Leu Ala Leu Lys Cys Gly Ala 130 135 140 Ser Leu Asn Cys Ala Asn Thr Leu Ala Asn Cys Leu Ser Leu Leu Ile 145 150 155 160 Arg Ser Gly Ile Ala Ile Ser Met Leu Val Leu Pro Leu Gln Phe Pro 165 170 175 Leu Pro Ala Ala Glu Asn Ile Ala Ala Ser Leu Asp Met Gly Ser Val 180 185 190 Ile Thr Ser Val Ser Leu Thr Ala Ile Gly Ala Val Leu Asp Tyr Cys 195 200 205 Leu Ala Arg Pro Ser Gly Asp Asp Gln Glu Asn Ser Val Asp Glu Leu 210 215 220 His Ala Asp Pro Ser Val Leu Leu Ala Glu Gln Met Ala Ala Leu Cys 225 230 235 240 Gln Ser Ala Thr Thr Pro Ala Pro Ala Leu Met Asp Ser Ser Asp His 245 250 255 Thr Ser Arg Gly Glu Pro 260 <210> SEQ ID NO 16 <211> LENGTH: 690 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(687) <400> SEQUENCE: 16 atg aaa cct gtt agc cca aat gct cag gta gga ggg caa cgt cct gtt 48 Met Lys Pro Val Ser Pro Asn Ala Gln Val Gly Gly Gln Arg Pro Val 1 5 10 15 aac gcg cct gag gaa tca cct cca tgt cct tca ttg cca cat ccg gaa 96 Asn Ala Pro Glu Glu Ser Pro Pro Cys Pro Ser Leu Pro His Pro Glu 20 25 30 acc aat atg gag agt ggt aga ata gga cct caa caa gga aaa gag cgg 144 Thr Asn Met Glu Ser Gly Arg Ile Gly Pro Gln Gln Gly Lys Glu Arg 35 40 45 gta ttg gcc gga ctt gcg aaa cga gtg ata gag tgt ttt cca aaa gaa 192 Val Leu Ala Gly Leu Ala Lys Arg Val Ile Glu Cys Phe Pro Lys Glu 50 55 60 att ttt agt tgg caa acg gtt att ttg ggc gga cag att tta tgc tgt 240 Ile Phe Ser Trp Gln Thr Val Ile Leu Gly Gly Gln Ile Leu Cys Cys 65 70 75 80 tcc gct gga ata gca tta aca gtg cta agt ggt gga ggc gcg ccg ctc 288 Ser Ala Gly Ile Ala Leu Thr Val Leu Ser Gly Gly Gly Ala Pro Leu 85 90 95 gta gcc ctg gca ggg att ggc ctt gct att gcc atc gcg gat gtc gcc 336 Val Ala Leu Ala Gly Ile Gly Leu Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Asp Val Ala 100 105 110 tgt ctt atc tac cat cat aaa cat cat ttg cct atg gct cac gac agt 384 Cys Leu Ile Tyr His His Lys His His Leu Pro Met Ala His Asp Ser 115 120 125 ata ggc aat gcc gtt ttt tat att gct aat tgt ttc gcc aat caa cgc 432 Ile Gly Asn Ala Val Phe Tyr Ile Ala Asn Cys Phe Ala Asn Gln Arg 130 135 140 aaa agt atg gcg att gct aaa gcc gtc tcc ctg ggc ggt aga tta gcc 480 Lys Ser Met Ala Ile Ala Lys Ala Val Ser Leu Gly Gly Arg Leu Ala 145 150 155 160 tta acc gcg acg gta atg act cat tca tac tgg agt ggt agt ttg gga 528 Leu Thr Ala Thr Val Met Thr His Ser Tyr Trp Ser Gly Ser Leu Gly 165 170 175 cta cag cct cat tta tta gag cgt ctt aat gat att acc tat gga cta 576 Leu Gln Pro His Leu Leu Glu Arg Leu Asn Asp Ile Thr Tyr Gly Leu 180 185 190 atg agt ttt act cgc ttc ggt atg gat ggg atg gca atg acc ggt atg 624 Met Ser Phe Thr Arg Phe Gly Met Asp Gly Met Ala Met Thr Gly Met 195 200 205 cag gtc agc agc cca tta tat cgt ttg ctg gct cag gta acg cca gaa 672 Gln Val Ser Ser Pro Leu Tyr Arg Leu Leu Ala Gln Val Thr Pro Glu 210 215 220 caa cgt gcg ccg gag taa 690 Gln Arg Ala Pro Glu 225 <210> SEQ ID NO 17 <211> LENGTH: 229 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 17 Met Lys Pro Val Ser Pro Asn Ala Gln Val Gly Gly Gln Arg Pro Val 1 5 10 15 Asn Ala Pro Glu Glu Ser Pro Pro Cys Pro Ser Leu Pro His Pro Glu 20 25 30 Thr Asn Met Glu Ser Gly Arg Ile Gly Pro Gln Gln Gly Lys Glu Arg 35 40 45 Val Leu Ala Gly Leu Ala Lys Arg Val Ile Glu Cys Phe Pro Lys Glu 50 55 60 Ile Phe Ser Trp Gln Thr Val Ile Leu Gly Gly Gln Ile Leu Cys Cys 65 70 75 80 Ser Ala Gly Ile Ala Leu Thr Val Leu Ser Gly Gly Gly Ala Pro Leu 85 90 95 Val Ala Leu Ala Gly Ile Gly Leu Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Asp Val Ala 100 105 110 Cys Leu Ile Tyr His His Lys His His Leu Pro Met Ala His Asp Ser 115 120 125 Ile Gly Asn Ala Val Phe Tyr Ile Ala Asn Cys Phe Ala Asn Gln Arg 130 135 140 Lys Ser Met Ala Ile Ala Lys Ala Val Ser Leu Gly Gly Arg Leu Ala 145 150 155 160 Leu Thr Ala Thr Val Met Thr His Ser Tyr Trp Ser Gly Ser Leu Gly 165 170 175 Leu Gln Pro His Leu Leu Glu Arg Leu Asn Asp Ile Thr Tyr Gly Leu 180 185 190 Met Ser Phe Thr Arg Phe Gly Met Asp Gly Met Ala Met Thr Gly Met 195 200 205 Gln Val Ser Ser Pro Leu Tyr Arg Leu Leu Ala Gln Val Thr Pro Glu 210 215 220 Gln Arg Ala Pro Glu 225 <210> SEQ ID NO 18 <211> LENGTH: 474 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(471) <400> SEQUENCE: 18 atg aaa aaa gac ccg acc cta caa cag gca cat gac acg atg cgg ttt 48 Met Lys Lys Asp Pro Thr Leu Gln Gln Ala His Asp Thr Met Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 ttc cgg cgt ggc ggc tcg ctg cgt atg ttg ttg gat gac gat gtt aca 96 Phe Arg Arg Gly Gly Ser Leu Arg Met Leu Leu Asp Asp Asp Val Thr 20 25 30 cag ccg ctt aat act ctg tat cgc tat gcc acg cag ctt atg gag gta 144 Gln Pro Leu Asn Thr Leu Tyr Arg Tyr Ala Thr Gln Leu Met Glu Val 35 40 45 aaa gaa ttc gcc ggc gca gcg cga ctt ttt caa ttg ctg acg ata tat 192 Lys Glu Phe Ala Gly Ala Ala Arg Leu Phe Gln Leu Leu Thr Ile Tyr 50 55 60 gat gcc tgg tca ttt gac tac tgg ttt cgg tta ggg gaa tgc tgc cag 240 Asp Ala Trp Ser Phe Asp Tyr Trp Phe Arg Leu Gly Glu Cys Cys Gln 65 70 75 80 gct caa aaa cat tgg ggg gaa gcg ata tac gct tat gga cgc gcg gca 288 Ala Gln Lys His Trp Gly Glu Ala Ile Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Arg Ala Ala 85 90 95 caa att aag att gat gcg ccg cag gcg cca tgg gcc gca gcg gaa tgc 336 Gln Ile Lys Ile Asp Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Trp Ala Ala Ala Glu Cys 100 105 110 tat ctc gcg tgt gat aac gtc tgt tat gca atc aaa gcg tta aag gcc 384 Tyr Leu Ala Cys Asp Asn Val Cys Tyr Ala Ile Lys Ala Leu Lys Ala 115 120 125 gtg gtg cgt att tgc ggc gag gtc agt gaa cat caa att ctc cga cag 432 Val Val Arg Ile Cys Gly Glu Val Ser Glu His Gln Ile Leu Arg Gln 130 135 140 cgt gca gaa aag atg tta cag caa ctt tct gac agg agc taa 474 Arg Ala Glu Lys Met Leu Gln Gln Leu Ser Asp Arg Ser 145 150 155 <210> SEQ ID NO 19 <211> LENGTH: 157 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 19 Met Lys Lys Asp Pro Thr Leu Gln Gln Ala His Asp Thr Met Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 Phe Arg Arg Gly Gly Ser Leu Arg Met Leu Leu Asp Asp Asp Val Thr 20 25 30 Gln Pro Leu Asn Thr Leu Tyr Arg Tyr Ala Thr Gln Leu Met Glu Val 35 40 45 Lys Glu Phe Ala Gly Ala Ala Arg Leu Phe Gln Leu Leu Thr Ile Tyr 50 55 60 Asp Ala Trp Ser Phe Asp Tyr Trp Phe Arg Leu Gly Glu Cys Cys Gln 65 70 75 80 Ala Gln Lys His Trp Gly Glu Ala Ile Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Arg Ala Ala 85 90 95 Gln Ile Lys Ile Asp Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Trp Ala Ala Ala Glu Cys 100 105 110 Tyr Leu Ala Cys Asp Asn Val Cys Tyr Ala Ile Lys Ala Leu Lys Ala 115 120 125 Val Val Arg Ile Cys Gly Glu Val Ser Glu His Gln Ile Leu Arg Gln 130 135 140 Arg Ala Glu Lys Met Leu Gln Gln Leu Ser Asp Arg Ser 145 150 155 <210> SEQ ID NO 20 <211> LENGTH: 435 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(432) <400> SEQUENCE: 20 atg atg atg aaa gaa gat cag aaa aat aaa ata ccc gaa gac att ctg 48 Met Met Met Lys Glu Asp Gln Lys Asn Lys Ile Pro Glu Asp Ile Leu 1 5 10 15 aaa cag cta tta tcc gtt gat ccg gaa acc gtt tat gcc agt ggt tac 96 Lys Gln Leu Leu Ser Val Asp Pro Glu Thr Val Tyr Ala Ser Gly Tyr 20 25 30 gcc tca tgg cag gag ggg gat tat tcg cgc gcc gta atc gat ttt agt 144 Ala Ser Trp Gln Glu Gly Asp Tyr Ser Arg Ala Val Ile Asp Phe Ser 35 40 45 tgg ctg gtg atg gcc cag cca tgg agt tgg cgt gcc cat att gca ttg 192 Trp Leu Val Met Ala Gln Pro Trp Ser Trp Arg Ala His Ile Ala Leu 50 55 60 gct ggc acc tgg atg atg ctt aaa gaa tac acg acg gcc att aat ttc 240 Ala Gly Thr Trp Met Met Leu Lys Glu Tyr Thr Thr Ala Ile Asn Phe 65 70 75 80 tat gga cat gcc ttg atg ctg gat gcc agc cat cca gaa ccg gtt tac 288 Tyr Gly His Ala Leu Met Leu Asp Ala Ser His Pro Glu Pro Val Tyr 85 90 95 caa acg ggc gtc tgt ctc aaa atg atg ggg gaa ccc ggg ttg gcg aga 336 Gln Thr Gly Val Cys Leu Lys Met Met Gly Glu Pro Gly Leu Ala Arg 100 105 110 gag gct ttt caa acc gca atc aag atg agt tat gcg gat gcc tca tgg 384 Glu Ala Phe Gln Thr Ala Ile Lys Met Ser Tyr Ala Asp Ala Ser Trp 115 120 125 agt gag att cgc cag aat gcg caa ata atg gtt gat act ctt att gct 432 Ser Glu Ile Arg Gln Asn Ala Gln Ile Met Val Asp Thr Leu Ile Ala 130 135 140 taa 435 <210> SEQ ID NO 21 <211> LENGTH: 144 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 21 Met Met Met Lys Glu Asp Gln Lys Asn Lys Ile Pro Glu Asp Ile Leu 1 5 10 15 Lys Gln Leu Leu Ser Val Asp Pro Glu Thr Val Tyr Ala Ser Gly Tyr 20 25 30 Ala Ser Trp Gln Glu Gly Asp Tyr Ser Arg Ala Val Ile Asp Phe Ser 35 40 45 Trp Leu Val Met Ala Gln Pro Trp Ser Trp Arg Ala His Ile Ala Leu 50 55 60 Ala Gly Thr Trp Met Met Leu Lys Glu Tyr Thr Thr Ala Ile Asn Phe 65 70 75 80 Tyr Gly His Ala Leu Met Leu Asp Ala Ser His Pro Glu Pro Val Tyr 85 90 95 Gln Thr Gly Val Cys Leu Lys Met Met Gly Glu Pro Gly Leu Ala Arg 100 105 110 Glu Ala Phe Gln Thr Ala Ile Lys Met Ser Tyr Ala Asp Ala Ser Trp 115 120 125 Ser Glu Ile Arg Gln Asn Ala Gln Ile Met Val Asp Thr Leu Ile Ala 130 135 140 <210> SEQ ID NO 22 <211> LENGTH: 1212 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(1209) <400> SEQUENCE: 22 atg gca tat ctc atg gtt aat cca aag agt tcc tgg aaa ata cgt ttt 48 Met Ala Tyr Leu Met Val Asn Pro Lys Ser Ser Trp Lys Ile Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 tta ggt cac gtt tta caa ggc cgg gaa gta tgg ctg aat gaa ggt aac 96 Leu Gly His Val Leu Gln Gly Arg Glu Val Trp Leu Asn Glu Gly Asn 20 25 30 ctg tca ctg ggg gag aag gga tgc gat att tgt att ccg ctg gct ata 144 Leu Ser Leu Gly Glu Lys Gly Cys Asp Ile Cys Ile Pro Leu Ala Ile 35 40 45 aat gaa aaa att att ctg aga gaa cag gca gat agt tta ttt gtt gat 192 Asn Glu Lys Ile Ile Leu Arg Glu Gln Ala Asp Ser Leu Phe Val Asp 50 55 60 gcc ggg aaa gcc aga gtt aga gtt aat ggc cgc aga ttt aat cca aat 240 Ala Gly Lys Ala Arg Val Arg Val Asn Gly Arg Arg Phe Asn Pro Asn 65 70 75 80 aag ccg cta cca tcc agt ggg gtt ttg cag gtt gcg gga gtg gct atc 288 Lys Pro Leu Pro Ser Ser Gly Val Leu Gln Val Ala Gly Val Ala Ile 85 90 95 gcg ttt ggt aaa cag gat tgt gaa ctt gct gat tat caa ata ccc gtt 336 Ala Phe Gly Lys Gln Asp Cys Glu Leu Ala Asp Tyr Gln Ile Pro Val 100 105 110 tcc aga tca ggg tac tgg tgg ttg gct ggc gta ttc ttg att ttc atc 384 Ser Arg Ser Gly Tyr Trp Trp Leu Ala Gly Val Phe Leu Ile Phe Ile 115 120 125 ggt gga atg ggt gtc ctg tta agt att agt ggt cag cct gaa acg gta 432 Gly Gly Met Gly Val Leu Leu Ser Ile Ser Gly Gln Pro Glu Thr Val 130 135 140 aat gac tta cct ttg cgg gtt aag ttt tta tta gac aaa agc aat att 480 Asn Asp Leu Pro Leu Arg Val Lys Phe Leu Leu Asp Lys Ser Asn Ile 145 150 155 160 cat tat gtg cgg gcg caa tgg aaa gaa gat ggc agc ctg cag ttg tcc 528 His Tyr Val Arg Ala Gln Trp Lys Glu Asp Gly Ser Leu Gln Leu Ser 165 170 175 ggt tat tgc tcg tca agc gaa cag atg caa aag gtg aga gcg act ctc 576 Gly Tyr Cys Ser Ser Ser Glu Gln Met Gln Lys Val Arg Ala Thr Leu 180 185 190 gaa tca tgg ggg gtc atg tat cgg gat ggt gta atc tgt gat gac tta 624 Glu Ser Trp Gly Val Met Tyr Arg Asp Gly Val Ile Cys Asp Asp Leu 195 200 205 ttg gta cga gaa gtg cag gat gtt ttg ata aaa atg ggt tac ccg cat 672 Leu Val Arg Glu Val Gln Asp Val Leu Ile Lys Met Gly Tyr Pro His 210 215 220 gct gaa gta tcc agc gaa ggg ccg ggg agc gtg tta att cat gat gat 720 Ala Glu Val Ser Ser Glu Gly Pro Gly Ser Val Leu Ile His Asp Asp 225 230 235 240 ata caa atg gat cag caa tgg cgc aag gtt caa cca tta ctt gca gat 768 Ile Gln Met Asp Gln Gln Trp Arg Lys Val Gln Pro Leu Leu Ala Asp 245 250 255 att ccc ggg tta ttg cac tgg cag att agt cac tct cat cag tct cag 816 Ile Pro Gly Leu Leu His Trp Gln Ile Ser His Ser His Gln Ser Gln 260 265 270 ggg gat gat att att tct gcg ata ata gag aac ggt tta gtg ggg ctt 864 Gly Asp Asp Ile Ile Ser Ala Ile Ile Glu Asn Gly Leu Val Gly Leu 275 280 285 gtc aat gtt agc cca atg cgg cgc tct ttt gtt atc agt ggt gta ctg 912 Val Asn Val Ser Pro Met Arg Arg Ser Phe Val Ile Ser Gly Val Leu 290 295 300 gat gaa tct cat caa cgc att ttg caa gaa acg tta gca gca tta aag 960 Asp Glu Ser His Gln Arg Ile Leu Gln Glu Thr Leu Ala Ala Leu Lys 305 310 315 320 aaa aag gat ccc gct ctt tct tta att tat cag gat att gcg cct tcc 1008 Lys Lys Asp Pro Ala Leu Ser Leu Ile Tyr Gln Asp Ile Ala Pro Ser 325 330 335 cat gat gaa agc aag tat ctg cct gcg cca gtg gct ggc ttt gta cag 1056 His Asp Glu Ser Lys Tyr Leu Pro Ala Pro Val Ala Gly Phe Val Gln 340 345 350 agt cgc cat ggt aat tac tta tta ctg acg aat aaa gag cgt tta cgt 1104 Ser Arg His Gly Asn Tyr Leu Leu Leu Thr Asn Lys Glu Arg Leu Arg 355 360 365 gta ggg gca ttg tta ccc aat ggg gga gaa att gtc cat ctg agt gcc 1152 Val Gly Ala Leu Leu Pro Asn Gly Gly Glu Ile Val His Leu Ser Ala 370 375 380 gat gtg gta acg att aaa cat tat gat act ttg att aac tat cca tta 1200 Asp Val Val Thr Ile Lys His Tyr Asp Thr Leu Ile Asn Tyr Pro Leu 385 390 395 400 gat ttt aag tga 1212 Asp Phe Lys <210> SEQ ID NO 23 <211> LENGTH: 403 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 23 Met Ala Tyr Leu Met Val Asn Pro Lys Ser Ser Trp Lys Ile Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly His Val Leu Gln Gly Arg Glu Val Trp Leu Asn Glu Gly Asn 20 25 30 Leu Ser Leu Gly Glu Lys Gly Cys Asp Ile Cys Ile Pro Leu Ala Ile 35 40 45 Asn Glu Lys Ile Ile Leu Arg Glu Gln Ala Asp Ser Leu Phe Val Asp 50 55 60 Ala Gly Lys Ala Arg Val Arg Val Asn Gly Arg Arg Phe Asn Pro Asn 65 70 75 80 Lys Pro Leu Pro Ser Ser Gly Val Leu Gln Val Ala Gly Val Ala Ile 85 90 95 Ala Phe Gly Lys Gln Asp Cys Glu Leu Ala Asp Tyr Gln Ile Pro Val 100 105 110 Ser Arg Ser Gly Tyr Trp Trp Leu Ala Gly Val Phe Leu Ile Phe Ile 115 120 125 Gly Gly Met Gly Val Leu Leu Ser Ile Ser Gly Gln Pro Glu Thr Val 130 135 140 Asn Asp Leu Pro Leu Arg Val Lys Phe Leu Leu Asp Lys Ser Asn Ile 145 150 155 160 His Tyr Val Arg Ala Gln Trp Lys Glu Asp Gly Ser Leu Gln Leu Ser 165 170 175 Gly Tyr Cys Ser Ser Ser Glu Gln Met Gln Lys Val Arg Ala Thr Leu 180 185 190 Glu Ser Trp Gly Val Met Tyr Arg Asp Gly Val Ile Cys Asp Asp Leu 195 200 205 Leu Val Arg Glu Val Gln Asp Val Leu Ile Lys Met Gly Tyr Pro His 210 215 220 Ala Glu Val Ser Ser Glu Gly Pro Gly Ser Val Leu Ile His Asp Asp 225 230 235 240 Ile Gln Met Asp Gln Gln Trp Arg Lys Val Gln Pro Leu Leu Ala Asp 245 250 255 Ile Pro Gly Leu Leu His Trp Gln Ile Ser His Ser His Gln Ser Gln 260 265 270 Gly Asp Asp Ile Ile Ser Ala Ile Ile Glu Asn Gly Leu Val Gly Leu 275 280 285 Val Asn Val Ser Pro Met Arg Arg Ser Phe Val Ile Ser Gly Val Leu 290 295 300 Asp Glu Ser His Gln Arg Ile Leu Gln Glu Thr Leu Ala Ala Leu Lys 305 310 315 320 Lys Lys Asp Pro Ala Leu Ser Leu Ile Tyr Gln Asp Ile Ala Pro Ser 325 330 335 His Asp Glu Ser Lys Tyr Leu Pro Ala Pro Val Ala Gly Phe Val Gln 340 345 350 Ser Arg His Gly Asn Tyr Leu Leu Leu Thr Asn Lys Glu Arg Leu Arg 355 360 365 Val Gly Ala Leu Leu Pro Asn Gly Gly Glu Ile Val His Leu Ser Ala 370 375 380 Asp Val Val Thr Ile Lys His Tyr Asp Thr Leu Ile Asn Tyr Pro Leu 385 390 395 400 Asp Phe Lys <210> SEQ ID NO 24 <211> LENGTH: 243 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(240) <400> SEQUENCE: 24 atg aca act ttg acc cgg tta gaa gat ttg ctg ctt cat tcg cgt gaa 48 Met Thr Thr Leu Thr Arg Leu Glu Asp Leu Leu Leu His Ser Arg Glu 1 5 10 15 gag gcc aaa ggc ata att tta caa tta agg gct gcc cgg aaa cag tta 96 Glu Ala Lys Gly Ile Ile Leu Gln Leu Arg Ala Ala Arg Lys Gln Leu 20 25 30 gaa gag aac aac ggc aag tta cag gat ccg cag caa tat cag caa aac 144 Glu Glu Asn Asn Gly Lys Leu Gln Asp Pro Gln Gln Tyr Gln Gln Asn 35 40 45 acc tta ttg ctt gaa gcg atc gag cag gcc gaa aat atc atc aac att 192 Thr Leu Leu Leu Glu Ala Ile Glu Gln Ala Glu Asn Ile Ile Asn Ile 50 55 60 att tat tat cgt tac cat aac agc gca ctt gta gtg agt gag caa gag 240 Ile Tyr Tyr Arg Tyr His Asn Ser Ala Leu Val Val Ser Glu Gln Glu 65 70 75 80 taa 243 <210> SEQ ID NO 25 <211> LENGTH: 80 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 25 Met Thr Thr Leu Thr Arg Leu Glu Asp Leu Leu Leu His Ser Arg Glu 1 5 10 15 Glu Ala Lys Gly Ile Ile Leu Gln Leu Arg Ala Ala Arg Lys Gln Leu 20 25 30 Glu Glu Asn Asn Gly Lys Leu Gln Asp Pro Gln Gln Tyr Gln Gln Asn 35 40 45 Thr Leu Leu Leu Glu Ala Ile Glu Gln Ala Glu Asn Ile Ile Asn Ile 50 55 60 Ile Tyr Tyr Arg Tyr His Asn Ser Ala Leu Val Val Ser Glu Gln Glu 65 70 75 80 <210> SEQ ID NO 26 <211> LENGTH: 216 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(213) <400> SEQUENCE: 26 atg gat att gca caa tta gtg gat atg ctc tcc cac atg gcg cac cag 48 Met Asp Ile Ala Gln Leu Val Asp Met Leu Ser His Met Ala His Gln 1 5 10 15 gca ggc cag gcc att aat gac aaa atg aat ggt aat gat ttg ctc aac 96 Ala Gly Gln Ala Ile Asn Asp Lys Met Asn Gly Asn Asp Leu Leu Asn 20 25 30 cca gaa tcg atg att aaa gcg caa ttt gcc tta cag cag tat tct aca 144 Pro Glu Ser Met Ile Lys Ala Gln Phe Ala Leu Gln Gln Tyr Ser Thr 35 40 45 ttt att aat tac gaa agt tca ctg atc aaa atg atc aag gat atg ctt 192 Phe Ile Asn Tyr Glu Ser Ser Leu Ile Lys Met Ile Lys Asp Met Leu 50 55 60 agt gga atc att gct aaa atc tga 216 Ser Gly Ile Ile Ala Lys Ile 65 70 <210> SEQ ID NO 27 <211> LENGTH: 71 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 27 Met Asp Ile Ala Gln Leu Val Asp Met Leu Ser His Met Ala His Gln 1 5 10 15 Ala Gly Gln Ala Ile Asn Asp Lys Met Asn Gly Asn Asp Leu Leu Asn 20 25 30 Pro Glu Ser Met Ile Lys Ala Gln Phe Ala Leu Gln Gln Tyr Ser Thr 35 40 45 Phe Ile Asn Tyr Glu Ser Ser Leu Ile Lys Met Ile Lys Asp Met Leu 50 55 60 Ser Gly Ile Ile Ala Lys Ile 65 70 <210> SEQ ID NO 28 <211> LENGTH: 228 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(225) <400> SEQUENCE: 28 atg ttt gcg ggc gtt aac cat agc ctg att tcc cag gta cat gcg atg 48 Met Phe Ala Gly Val Asn His Ser Leu Ile Ser Gln Val His Ala Met 1 5 10 15 tta cca gcg cta acg gtt att gtt ccg gat aaa aaa tta cag ttg gta 96 Leu Pro Ala Leu Thr Val Ile Val Pro Asp Lys Lys Leu Gln Leu Val 20 25 30 tgt ctg gca tta ttg ttg gcg ggt tta aat gag ccg cta aaa gcc gcg 144 Cys Leu Ala Leu Leu Leu Ala Gly Leu Asn Glu Pro Leu Lys Ala Ala 35 40 45 aaa att tta tcg gat ata gat ttg cca gag gct atg gcg ctg cgt ctg 192 Lys Ile Leu Ser Asp Ile Asp Leu Pro Glu Ala Met Ala Leu Arg Leu 50 55 60 tta ttt cct gca cca aat gag ggg ttt gaa aat tga 228 Leu Phe Pro Ala Pro Asn Glu Gly Phe Glu Asn 65 70 75 <210> SEQ ID NO 29 <211> LENGTH: 75 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 29 Met Phe Ala Gly Val Asn His Ser Leu Ile Ser Gln Val His Ala Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Leu Thr Val Ile Val Pro Asp Lys Lys Leu Gln Leu Val 20 25 30 Cys Leu Ala Leu Leu Leu Ala Gly Leu Asn Glu Pro Leu Lys Ala Ala 35 40 45 Lys Ile Leu Ser Asp Ile Asp Leu Pro Glu Ala Met Ala Leu Arg Leu 50 55 60 Leu Phe Pro Ala Pro Asn Glu Gly Phe Glu Asn 65 70 75 <210> SEQ ID NO 30 <211> LENGTH: 249 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(246) <400> SEQUENCE: 30 atg agc gta gtg cct gta agc act caa tct tat gta aag tcc tct gca 48 Met Ser Val Val Pro Val Ser Thr Gln Ser Tyr Val Lys Ser Ser Ala 1 5 10 15 gaa ccg agc cag gag caa att aat ttt ttt gaa caa ttg ctg aaa gat 96 Glu Pro Ser Gln Glu Gln Ile Asn Phe Phe Glu Gln Leu Leu Lys Asp 20 25 30 gaa gca tcc acc agt aac gcc agt gct tta tta ccg cag gtt atg ttg 144 Glu Ala Ser Thr Ser Asn Ala Ser Ala Leu Leu Pro Gln Val Met Leu 35 40 45 acc aga caa atg gat tat atg cag tta acg gta ggc gtc gat tat ctt 192 Thr Arg Gln Met Asp Tyr Met Gln Leu Thr Val Gly Val Asp Tyr Leu 50 55 60 gcc aga ata tca ggc gca gca tcg caa gcg ctt aat aag ctg gat aac 240 Ala Arg Ile Ser Gly Ala Ala Ser Gln Ala Leu Asn Lys Leu Asp Asn 65 70 75 80 atg gca tga 249 Met Ala <210> SEQ ID NO 31 <211> LENGTH: 82 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 31 Met Ser Val Val Pro Val Ser Thr Gln Ser Tyr Val Lys Ser Ser Ala 1 5 10 15 Glu Pro Ser Gln Glu Gln Ile Asn Phe Phe Glu Gln Leu Leu Lys Asp 20 25 30 Glu Ala Ser Thr Ser Asn Ala Ser Ala Leu Leu Pro Gln Val Met Leu 35 40 45 Thr Arg Gln Met Asp Tyr Met Gln Leu Thr Val Gly Val Asp Tyr Leu 50 55 60 Ala Arg Ile Ser Gly Ala Ala Ser Gln Ala Leu Asn Lys Leu Asp Asn 65 70 75 80 Met Ala <210> SEQ ID NO 32 <211> LENGTH: 750 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(747) <400> SEQUENCE: 32 atg aag gtt cat cgt ata gta ttt ctt act gtc ctt acg ttc ttt ctt 48 Met Lys Val His Arg Ile Val Phe Leu Thr Val Leu Thr Phe Phe Leu 1 5 10 15 acg gca tgt gat gtg gat ctt tat cgc tca ttg cca gaa gat gaa gcg 96 Thr Ala Cys Asp Val Asp Leu Tyr Arg Ser Leu Pro Glu Asp Glu Ala 20 25 30 aat caa atg ctg gca tta ctt atg cag cat cat att gat gcg gaa aaa 144 Asn Gln Met Leu Ala Leu Leu Met Gln His His Ile Asp Ala Glu Lys 35 40 45 aaa cag gaa gag gat ggt gta acc tta cgt gtc gag cag tcg cag ttt 192 Lys Gln Glu Glu Asp Gly Val Thr Leu Arg Val Glu Gln Ser Gln Phe 50 55 60 att aat gcg gtt gag cta ctt aga ctt aac ggt tat ccg cat agg cag 240 Ile Asn Ala Val Glu Leu Leu Arg Leu Asn Gly Tyr Pro His Arg Gln 65 70 75 80 ttt aca acg gcg gat aag atg ttt ccg gct aat cag tta gtg gta tca 288 Phe Thr Thr Ala Asp Lys Met Phe Pro Ala Asn Gln Leu Val Val Ser 85 90 95 ccc cag gaa gaa cag cag aag att aat ttt tta aaa gaa caa aga att 336 Pro Gln Glu Glu Gln Gln Lys Ile Asn Phe Leu Lys Glu Gln Arg Ile 100 105 110 gaa gga atg ctg agt cag atg gag ggc gtg att aat gca aaa gtg acc 384 Glu Gly Met Leu Ser Gln Met Glu Gly Val Ile Asn Ala Lys Val Thr 115 120 125 att gcg cta ccg act tat gat gag gga agt aac gct tct ccg agc tca 432 Ile Ala Leu Pro Thr Tyr Asp Glu Gly Ser Asn Ala Ser Pro Ser Ser 130 135 140 gtt gcc gta ttt ata aaa tat tca cct cag gtc aat atg gag gcc ttt 480 Val Ala Val Phe Ile Lys Tyr Ser Pro Gln Val Asn Met Glu Ala Phe 145 150 155 160 cgg gta aaa att aaa gat tta ata gag atg tca atc cct ggg ttg caa 528 Arg Val Lys Ile Lys Asp Leu Ile Glu Met Ser Ile Pro Gly Leu Gln 165 170 175 tac agt aag att agt atc ttg atg cag cct gct gaa ttc aga atg gta 576 Tyr Ser Lys Ile Ser Ile Leu Met Gln Pro Ala Glu Phe Arg Met Val 180 185 190 gct gac gta ccc gcg aga caa aca ttc tgg att atg gac gtt atc aac 624 Ala Asp Val Pro Ala Arg Gln Thr Phe Trp Ile Met Asp Val Ile Asn 195 200 205 gcc aat aaa ggg aag gtg gtg aag tgg ttg atg aaa tac cct tat ccg 672 Ala Asn Lys Gly Lys Val Val Lys Trp Leu Met Lys Tyr Pro Tyr Pro 210 215 220 ttg atg tta tcg ttg aca gga ctg tta tta gga gtg ggc atc ctg atc 720 Leu Met Leu Ser Leu Thr Gly Leu Leu Leu Gly Val Gly Ile Leu Ile 225 230 235 240 ggc tat ttt tgc ctg aga cgc cgt ttt tga 750 Gly Tyr Phe Cys Leu Arg Arg Arg Phe 245 <210> SEQ ID NO 33 <211> LENGTH: 249 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 33 Met Lys Val His Arg Ile Val Phe Leu Thr Val Leu Thr Phe Phe Leu 1 5 10 15 Thr Ala Cys Asp Val Asp Leu Tyr Arg Ser Leu Pro Glu Asp Glu Ala 20 25 30 Asn Gln Met Leu Ala Leu Leu Met Gln His His Ile Asp Ala Glu Lys 35 40 45 Lys Gln Glu Glu Asp Gly Val Thr Leu Arg Val Glu Gln Ser Gln Phe 50 55 60 Ile Asn Ala Val Glu Leu Leu Arg Leu Asn Gly Tyr Pro His Arg Gln 65 70 75 80 Phe Thr Thr Ala Asp Lys Met Phe Pro Ala Asn Gln Leu Val Val Ser 85 90 95 Pro Gln Glu Glu Gln Gln Lys Ile Asn Phe Leu Lys Glu Gln Arg Ile 100 105 110 Glu Gly Met Leu Ser Gln Met Glu Gly Val Ile Asn Ala Lys Val Thr 115 120 125 Ile Ala Leu Pro Thr Tyr Asp Glu Gly Ser Asn Ala Ser Pro Ser Ser 130 135 140 Val Ala Val Phe Ile Lys Tyr Ser Pro Gln Val Asn Met Glu Ala Phe 145 150 155 160 Arg Val Lys Ile Lys Asp Leu Ile Glu Met Ser Ile Pro Gly Leu Gln 165 170 175 Tyr Ser Lys Ile Ser Ile Leu Met Gln Pro Ala Glu Phe Arg Met Val 180 185 190 Ala Asp Val Pro Ala Arg Gln Thr Phe Trp Ile Met Asp Val Ile Asn 195 200 205 Ala Asn Lys Gly Lys Val Val Lys Trp Leu Met Lys Tyr Pro Tyr Pro 210 215 220 Leu Met Leu Ser Leu Thr Gly Leu Leu Leu Gly Val Gly Ile Leu Ile 225 230 235 240 Gly Tyr Phe Cys Leu Arg Arg Arg Phe 245 <210> SEQ ID NO 34 <211> LENGTH: 2763 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(2760) <400> SEQUENCE: 34 atg aat ttg ctc aat ctc aag aat acg ctg caa aca tct tta gta atc 48 Met Asn Leu Leu Asn Leu Lys Asn Thr Leu Gln Thr Ser Leu Val Ile 1 5 10 15 agg cta act ttt tta ttt tta tta aca aca ata att att tgg ctg cta 96 Arg Leu Thr Phe Leu Phe Leu Leu Thr Thr Ile Ile Ile Trp Leu Leu 20 25 30 tct gtg ctt acc gca gct tat ata tca atg gtt cag aaa cgg cag cat 144 Ser Val Leu Thr Ala Ala Tyr Ile Ser Met Val Gln Lys Arg Gln His 35 40 45 ata ata gag gat tta tcc gtt cta tcc gag atg aat att gta cta agc 192 Ile Ile Glu Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Ser Glu Met Asn Ile Val Leu Ser 50 55 60 aat caa cgg ttt gaa gaa gct gaa cgt gac gct aaa aat tta atg tat 240 Asn Gln Arg Phe Glu Glu Ala Glu Arg Asp Ala Lys Asn Leu Met Tyr 65 70 75 80 caa tgc tca tta gcg act gag att cat cat aac gat att ttc cct gag 288 Gln Cys Ser Leu Ala Thr Glu Ile His His Asn Asp Ile Phe Pro Glu 85 90 95 gtg agc cgg cat cta tct gtc ggt cct tca aat tgc acg ccg acg cta 336 Val Ser Arg His Leu Ser Val Gly Pro Ser Asn Cys Thr Pro Thr Leu 100 105 110 aac gga gag aag cac cgt ctc ttt ctg cag tcc tct gat atc gat gaa 384 Asn Gly Glu Lys His Arg Leu Phe Leu Gln Ser Ser Asp Ile Asp Glu 115 120 125 aat agc ttt cgt cgc gat agt ttt att ctt aat cat aaa aat gag att 432 Asn Ser Phe Arg Arg Asp Ser Phe Ile Leu Asn His Lys Asn Glu Ile 130 135 140 tcg tta tta tct act gat aac cct tca gat tat tca act cta cag cct 480 Ser Leu Leu Ser Thr Asp Asn Pro Ser Asp Tyr Ser Thr Leu Gln Pro 145 150 155 160 tta acg cga aaa agc ttt cct tta tac cca acc cat gcc ggg ttt tac 528 Leu Thr Arg Lys Ser Phe Pro Leu Tyr Pro Thr His Ala Gly Phe Tyr 165 170 175 tgg agt gaa cca gaa tac ata aac ggc aaa gga tgg cac gct tcc gtt 576 Trp Ser Glu Pro Glu Tyr Ile Asn Gly Lys Gly Trp His Ala Ser Val 180 185 190 gcg gtt gcc gat cag caa ggc gta ttt ttt gag gtg acg gtt aaa ctt 624 Ala Val Ala Asp Gln Gln Gly Val Phe Phe Glu Val Thr Val Lys Leu 195 200 205 ccc gat ctc att act aag agc cac ctg cca tta gat gat agt att cga 672 Pro Asp Leu Ile Thr Lys Ser His Leu Pro Leu Asp Asp Ser Ile Arg 210 215 220 gta tgg ctg gat caa aac aac cac tta ttg ccg ttt tca tac atc ccg 720 Val Trp Leu Asp Gln Asn Asn His Leu Leu Pro Phe Ser Tyr Ile Pro 225 230 235 240 caa aaa ata cgt aca cag tta gaa aat gta acg ctg cat gat gga tgg 768 Gln Lys Ile Arg Thr Gln Leu Glu Asn Val Thr Leu His Asp Gly Trp 245 250 255 cag caa att ccc gga ttt ctg ata tta cgc aca acc ttg cat ggc ccc 816 Gln Gln Ile Pro Gly Phe Leu Ile Leu Arg Thr Thr Leu His Gly Pro 260 265 270 gga tgg agt ctg gtt acg ctg tac cca tac ggt aat cta cat aat cgc 864 Gly Trp Ser Leu Val Thr Leu Tyr Pro Tyr Gly Asn Leu His Asn Arg 275 280 285 atc tta aaa att atc ctt caa caa atc ccc ttt aca tta aca gca ttg 912 Ile Leu Lys Ile Ile Leu Gln Gln Ile Pro Phe Thr Leu Thr Ala Leu 290 295 300 gtg ttg atg acg tcg gct ttt tgc tgg tta cta cat cgc tca ctg gcc 960 Val Leu Met Thr Ser Ala Phe Cys Trp Leu Leu His Arg Ser Leu Ala 305 310 315 320 aaa ccg tta tgg cgt ttt gtc gat gtc att aat aaa acc gca act gca 1008 Lys Pro Leu Trp Arg Phe Val Asp Val Ile Asn Lys Thr Ala Thr Ala 325 330 335 ccg ctg agc aca cgt tta cca gca caa cga ctg gat gaa tta gat agt 1056 Pro Leu Ser Thr Arg Leu Pro Ala Gln Arg Leu Asp Glu Leu Asp Ser 340 345 350 att gcc ggt gct ttt aac caa ctg ctt gat act cta caa gtc caa tac 1104 Ile Ala Gly Ala Phe Asn Gln Leu Leu Asp Thr Leu Gln Val Gln Tyr 355 360 365 gac aat ctg gaa aac aaa gtc gca gag cgc acc cag gcg cta aat gaa 1152 Asp Asn Leu Glu Asn Lys Val Ala Glu Arg Thr Gln Ala Leu Asn Glu 370 375 380 gca aaa aaa cgc gct gag cga gct aac aaa cgt aaa agc att cat ctt 1200 Ala Lys Lys Arg Ala Glu Arg Ala Asn Lys Arg Lys Ser Ile His Leu 385 390 395 400 acg gta ata agt cat gag tta cgt act ccg atg aat ggc gta ctc ggt 1248 Thr Val Ile Ser His Glu Leu Arg Thr Pro Met Asn Gly Val Leu Gly 405 410 415 gca att gaa tta tta caa acc acc cct tta aac ata gag caa caa gga 1296 Ala Ile Glu Leu Leu Gln Thr Thr Pro Leu Asn Ile Glu Gln Gln Gly 420 425 430 tta gct gat acc gcc aga aat tgt aca ctg tct ttg tta gct att att 1344 Leu Ala Asp Thr Ala Arg Asn Cys Thr Leu Ser Leu Leu Ala Ile Ile 435 440 445 aat aat ctg ctg gat ttt tca cgc atc gag tct ggt cat ttc aca tta 1392 Asn Asn Leu Leu Asp Phe Ser Arg Ile Glu Ser Gly His Phe Thr Leu 450 455 460 cat atg gaa gaa aca gcg tta ctg ccg tta ctg gac cag gca atg caa 1440 His Met Glu Glu Thr Ala Leu Leu Pro Leu Leu Asp Gln Ala Met Gln 465 470 475 480 acc atc cag ggg cca gcg caa agc aaa aaa ctg tca tta cgt act ttt 1488 Thr Ile Gln Gly Pro Ala Gln Ser Lys Lys Leu Ser Leu Arg Thr Phe 485 490 495 gtc ggt caa cat gtc cct ctc tat ttt cat acc gac agt atc cgt tta 1536 Val Gly Gln His Val Pro Leu Tyr Phe His Thr Asp Ser Ile Arg Leu 500 505 510 cgg caa att ttg gtt aat tta ctc ggg aac gcg gta aaa ttt acc gaa 1584 Arg Gln Ile Leu Val Asn Leu Leu Gly Asn Ala Val Lys Phe Thr Glu 515 520 525 acc gga ggg ata cgt ctg acg gtc aag cgt cat gag gaa caa tta ata 1632 Thr Gly Gly Ile Arg Leu Thr Val Lys Arg His Glu Glu Gln Leu Ile 530 535 540 ttt ctg gtt agc gat agc ggt aaa ggg att gaa ata cag cag cag tct 1680 Phe Leu Val Ser Asp Ser Gly Lys Gly Ile Glu Ile Gln Gln Gln Ser 545 550 555 560 caa atc ttt act gct ttt tat caa gca gac aca aat tcg caa ggt aca 1728 Gln Ile Phe Thr Ala Phe Tyr Gln Ala Asp Thr Asn Ser Gln Gly Thr 565 570 575 gga att gga ctg act att gcg tca agc ctg gct aaa atg atg ggc ggt 1776 Gly Ile Gly Leu Thr Ile Ala Ser Ser Leu Ala Lys Met Met Gly Gly 580 585 590 aat ctg aca cta aaa agt gtc ccc ggg gtt gga acc tgt gtc tcg cta 1824 Asn Leu Thr Leu Lys Ser Val Pro Gly Val Gly Thr Cys Val Ser Leu 595 600 605 gta tta ccc tta caa gaa tac cag ccg cct caa cca att aaa ggg acg 1872 Val Leu Pro Leu Gln Glu Tyr Gln Pro Pro Gln Pro Ile Lys Gly Thr 610 615 620 ctg tca gcg ccg ttc tgc ctg cat cgg caa ctg gct tgc tgg gga ata 1920 Leu Ser Ala Pro Phe Cys Leu His Arg Gln Leu Ala Cys Trp Gly Ile 625 630 635 640 cgc ggt gaa cca ccc cac cag caa aat gcg ctt ctc aac gca gag ctt 1968 Arg Gly Glu Pro Pro His Gln Gln Asn Ala Leu Leu Asn Ala Glu Leu 645 650 655 ttg tat ttc tcc gga aaa ctc tac gac ctg gcg caa cag tta ata ttg 2016 Leu Tyr Phe Ser Gly Lys Leu Tyr Asp Leu Ala Gln Gln Leu Ile Leu 660 665 670 tgt aca cca aat atg cca gta ata aat aat ttg tta cca ccc tgg cag 2064 Cys Thr Pro Asn Met Pro Val Ile Asn Asn Leu Leu Pro Pro Trp Gln 675 680 685 ttg cag att ctt ttg gtt gat gat gcc gat att aat cgg gat atc atc 2112 Leu Gln Ile Leu Leu Val Asp Asp Ala Asp Ile Asn Arg Asp Ile Ile 690 695 700 ggc aaa atg ctt gtc agc ctg ggc caa cac gtc act att gcc gcc agt 2160 Gly Lys Met Leu Val Ser Leu Gly Gln His Val Thr Ile Ala Ala Ser 705 710 715 720 agt aac gag gct ctg act tta tca caa cag cag cga ttc gat tta gta 2208 Ser Asn Glu Ala Leu Thr Leu Ser Gln Gln Gln Arg Phe Asp Leu Val 725 730 735 ctg att gac att aga atg cca gaa ata gat ggt att gaa tgt gta cga 2256 Leu Ile Asp Ile Arg Met Pro Glu Ile Asp Gly Ile Glu Cys Val Arg 740 745 750 tta tgg cat gat gag ccg aat aat tta gat cct gac tgc atg ttt gtg 2304 Leu Trp His Asp Glu Pro Asn Asn Leu Asp Pro Asp Cys Met Phe Val 755 760 765 gca cta tcc gct agc gta gcg aca gaa gat att cat cgt tgt aaa aaa 2352 Ala Leu Ser Ala Ser Val Ala Thr Glu Asp Ile His Arg Cys Lys Lys 770 775 780 aat ggg att cat cat tac att aca aaa cca gtg aca ttg gct acc tta 2400 Asn Gly Ile His His Tyr Ile Thr Lys Pro Val Thr Leu Ala Thr Leu 785 790 795 800 gct cgc tac atc agt att gcc gca gaa tac caa ctt tta cga aat ata 2448 Ala Arg Tyr Ile Ser Ile Ala Ala Glu Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Asn Ile 805 810 815 gag cta cag gag cag gat ccg agt cgc tgc tca gcg cta ctg gcg aca 2496 Glu Leu Gln Glu Gln Asp Pro Ser Arg Cys Ser Ala Leu Leu Ala Thr 820 825 830 gat gat atg gtc att aat agc aag att ttc caa tca ctg gac ctc ttg 2544 Asp Asp Met Val Ile Asn Ser Lys Ile Phe Gln Ser Leu Asp Leu Leu 835 840 845 ctg gct gat att gaa aat gcc gta tcg gct gga gaa aaa atc gat cag 2592 Leu Ala Asp Ile Glu Asn Ala Val Ser Ala Gly Glu Lys Ile Asp Gln 850 855 860 tta att cac aca tta aaa ggc tgt tta ggt caa ata ggg cag act gaa 2640 Leu Ile His Thr Leu Lys Gly Cys Leu Gly Gln Ile Gly Gln Thr Glu 865 870 875 880 ttg gta tgc tat gtc ata gac att gag aat cgc gta aaa atg ggg aaa 2688 Leu Val Cys Tyr Val Ile Asp Ile Glu Asn Arg Val Lys Met Gly Lys 885 890 895 atc atc gcg ctg gag gaa cta acc gac tta cgc cag aaa ata cgt atg 2736 Ile Ile Ala Leu Glu Glu Leu Thr Asp Leu Arg Gln Lys Ile Arg Met 900 905 910 atc ttc aaa aac tac acc att act taa 2763 Ile Phe Lys Asn Tyr Thr Ile Thr 915 920 <210> SEQ ID NO 35 <211> LENGTH: 920 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 35 Met Asn Leu Leu Asn Leu Lys Asn Thr Leu Gln Thr Ser Leu Val Ile 1 5 10 15 Arg Leu Thr Phe Leu Phe Leu Leu Thr Thr Ile Ile Ile Trp Leu Leu 20 25 30 Ser Val Leu Thr Ala Ala Tyr Ile Ser Met Val Gln Lys Arg Gln His 35 40 45 Ile Ile Glu Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Ser Glu Met Asn Ile Val Leu Ser 50 55 60 Asn Gln Arg Phe Glu Glu Ala Glu Arg Asp Ala Lys Asn Leu Met Tyr 65 70 75 80 Gln Cys Ser Leu Ala Thr Glu Ile His His Asn Asp Ile Phe Pro Glu 85 90 95 Val Ser Arg His Leu Ser Val Gly Pro Ser Asn Cys Thr Pro Thr Leu 100 105 110 Asn Gly Glu Lys His Arg Leu Phe Leu Gln Ser Ser Asp Ile Asp Glu 115 120 125 Asn Ser Phe Arg Arg Asp Ser Phe Ile Leu Asn His Lys Asn Glu Ile 130 135 140 Ser Leu Leu Ser Thr Asp Asn Pro Ser Asp Tyr Ser Thr Leu Gln Pro 145 150 155 160 Leu Thr Arg Lys Ser Phe Pro Leu Tyr Pro Thr His Ala Gly Phe Tyr 165 170 175 Trp Ser Glu Pro Glu Tyr Ile Asn Gly Lys Gly Trp His Ala Ser Val 180 185 190 Ala Val Ala Asp Gln Gln Gly Val Phe Phe Glu Val Thr Val Lys Leu 195 200 205 Pro Asp Leu Ile Thr Lys Ser His Leu Pro Leu Asp Asp Ser Ile Arg 210 215 220 Val Trp Leu Asp Gln Asn Asn His Leu Leu Pro Phe Ser Tyr Ile Pro 225 230 235 240 Gln Lys Ile Arg Thr Gln Leu Glu Asn Val Thr Leu His Asp Gly Trp 245 250 255 Gln Gln Ile Pro Gly Phe Leu Ile Leu Arg Thr Thr Leu His Gly Pro 260 265 270 Gly Trp Ser Leu Val Thr Leu Tyr Pro Tyr Gly Asn Leu His Asn Arg 275 280 285 Ile Leu Lys Ile Ile Leu Gln Gln Ile Pro Phe Thr Leu Thr Ala Leu 290 295 300 Val Leu Met Thr Ser Ala Phe Cys Trp Leu Leu His Arg Ser Leu Ala 305 310 315 320 Lys Pro Leu Trp Arg Phe Val Asp Val Ile Asn Lys Thr Ala Thr Ala 325 330 335 Pro Leu Ser Thr Arg Leu Pro Ala Gln Arg Leu Asp Glu Leu Asp Ser 340 345 350 Ile Ala Gly Ala Phe Asn Gln Leu Leu Asp Thr Leu Gln Val Gln Tyr 355 360 365 Asp Asn Leu Glu Asn Lys Val Ala Glu Arg Thr Gln Ala Leu Asn Glu 370 375 380 Ala Lys Lys Arg Ala Glu Arg Ala Asn Lys Arg Lys Ser Ile His Leu 385 390 395 400 Thr Val Ile Ser His Glu Leu Arg Thr Pro Met Asn Gly Val Leu Gly 405 410 415 Ala Ile Glu Leu Leu Gln Thr Thr Pro Leu Asn Ile Glu Gln Gln Gly 420 425 430 Leu Ala Asp Thr Ala Arg Asn Cys Thr Leu Ser Leu Leu Ala Ile Ile 435 440 445 Asn Asn Leu Leu Asp Phe Ser Arg Ile Glu Ser Gly His Phe Thr Leu 450 455 460 His Met Glu Glu Thr Ala Leu Leu Pro Leu Leu Asp Gln Ala Met Gln 465 470 475 480 Thr Ile Gln Gly Pro Ala Gln Ser Lys Lys Leu Ser Leu Arg Thr Phe 485 490 495 Val Gly Gln His Val Pro Leu Tyr Phe His Thr Asp Ser Ile Arg Leu 500 505 510 Arg Gln Ile Leu Val Asn Leu Leu Gly Asn Ala Val Lys Phe Thr Glu 515 520 525 Thr Gly Gly Ile Arg Leu Thr Val Lys Arg His Glu Glu Gln Leu Ile 530 535 540 Phe Leu Val Ser Asp Ser Gly Lys Gly Ile Glu Ile Gln Gln Gln Ser 545 550 555 560 Gln Ile Phe Thr Ala Phe Tyr Gln Ala Asp Thr Asn Ser Gln Gly Thr 565 570 575 Gly Ile Gly Leu Thr Ile Ala Ser Ser Leu Ala Lys Met Met Gly Gly 580 585 590 Asn Leu Thr Leu Lys Ser Val Pro Gly Val Gly Thr Cys Val Ser Leu 595 600 605 Val Leu Pro Leu Gln Glu Tyr Gln Pro Pro Gln Pro Ile Lys Gly Thr 610 615 620 Leu Ser Ala Pro Phe Cys Leu His Arg Gln Leu Ala Cys Trp Gly Ile 625 630 635 640 Arg Gly Glu Pro Pro His Gln Gln Asn Ala Leu Leu Asn Ala Glu Leu 645 650 655 Leu Tyr Phe Ser Gly Lys Leu Tyr Asp Leu Ala Gln Gln Leu Ile Leu 660 665 670 Cys Thr Pro Asn Met Pro Val Ile Asn Asn Leu Leu Pro Pro Trp Gln 675 680 685 Leu Gln Ile Leu Leu Val Asp Asp Ala Asp Ile Asn Arg Asp Ile Ile 690 695 700 Gly Lys Met Leu Val Ser Leu Gly Gln His Val Thr Ile Ala Ala Ser 705 710 715 720 Ser Asn Glu Ala Leu Thr Leu Ser Gln Gln Gln Arg Phe Asp Leu Val 725 730 735 Leu Ile Asp Ile Arg Met Pro Glu Ile Asp Gly Ile Glu Cys Val Arg 740 745 750 Leu Trp His Asp Glu Pro Asn Asn Leu Asp Pro Asp Cys Met Phe Val 755 760 765 Ala Leu Ser Ala Ser Val Ala Thr Glu Asp Ile His Arg Cys Lys Lys 770 775 780 Asn Gly Ile His His Tyr Ile Thr Lys Pro Val Thr Leu Ala Thr Leu 785 790 795 800 Ala Arg Tyr Ile Ser Ile Ala Ala Glu Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Asn Ile 805 810 815 Glu Leu Gln Glu Gln Asp Pro Ser Arg Cys Ser Ala Leu Leu Ala Thr 820 825 830 Asp Asp Met Val Ile Asn Ser Lys Ile Phe Gln Ser Leu Asp Leu Leu 835 840 845 Leu Ala Asp Ile Glu Asn Ala Val Ser Ala Gly Glu Lys Ile Asp Gln 850 855 860 Leu Ile His Thr Leu Lys Gly Cys Leu Gly Gln Ile Gly Gln Thr Glu 865 870 875 880 Leu Val Cys Tyr Val Ile Asp Ile Glu Asn Arg Val Lys Met Gly Lys 885 890 895 Ile Ile Ala Leu Glu Glu Leu Thr Asp Leu Arg Gln Lys Ile Arg Met 900 905 910 Ile Phe Lys Asn Tyr Thr Ile Thr 915 920 <210> SEQ ID NO 36 <211> LENGTH: 639 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)..(636) <400> SEQUENCE: 36 atg aaa gaa tat aag atc tta tta gta gac gat cat gaa atc atc att 48 Met Lys Glu Tyr Lys Ile Leu Leu Val Asp Asp His Glu Ile Ile Ile 1 5 10 15 aac ggc att atg aat gcc tta tta ccc tgg cct cat ttt aaa att gta 96 Asn Gly Ile Met Asn Ala Leu Leu Pro Trp Pro His Phe Lys Ile Val 20 25 30 gag cat gtt aaa aat ggt ctt gag gtt tat aat gcc tgt tgt gca tac 144 Glu His Val Lys Asn Gly Leu Glu Val Tyr Asn Ala Cys Cys Ala Tyr 35 40 45 gag cct gac ata ctt atc ctt gat ctt agt cta cct ggc atc aat ggc 192 Glu Pro Asp Ile Leu Ile Leu Asp Leu Ser Leu Pro Gly Ile Asn Gly 50 55 60 ctg gat atc att cct caa tta cat cag cgt tgg cca gca atg aat att 240 Leu Asp Ile Ile Pro Gln Leu His Gln Arg Trp Pro Ala Met Asn Ile 65 70 75 80 ctg gtt tac aca gca tac caa caa gag tat atg acc att aaa act tta 288 Leu Val Tyr Thr Ala Tyr Gln Gln Glu Tyr Met Thr Ile Lys Thr Leu 85 90 95 gcc gca ggt gct aat ggc tat gtt tta aaa agc agt agt cag caa gtt 336 Ala Ala Gly Ala Asn Gly Tyr Val Leu Lys Ser Ser Ser Gln Gln Val 100 105 110 ctg tta gcg gca ttg caa aca gta gca gta aac aag cgt tac att gac 384 Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Gln Thr Val Ala Val Asn Lys Arg Tyr Ile Asp 115 120 125 cca acg ttg aat cgg gaa gct atc ctg gct gaa tta aac gct gac acg 432 Pro Thr Leu Asn Arg Glu Ala Ile Leu Ala Glu Leu Asn Ala Asp Thr 130 135 140 acc aat cat caa ctg ctt act ttg cgc gag cgt cag gtt ctt aaa ctt 480 Thr Asn His Gln Leu Leu Thr Leu Arg Glu Arg Gln Val Leu Lys Leu 145 150 155 160 att gac gag ggg tat acc aat cat ggg atc agc gaa aag cta cat atc 528 Ile Asp Glu Gly Tyr Thr Asn His Gly Ile Ser Glu Lys Leu His Ile 165 170 175 agt ata aaa acc gtc gaa aca cac cgg atg aat atg atg aga aag cta 576 Ser Ile Lys Thr Val Glu Thr His Arg Met Asn Met Met Arg Lys Leu 180 185 190 cag gtt cat aaa gtg aca gag tta ctt aac tgt gcc cga aga atg agg 624 Gln Val His Lys Val Thr Glu Leu Leu Asn Cys Ala Arg Arg Met Arg 195 200 205 tta ata gag tat taa 639 Leu Ile Glu Tyr 210 <210> SEQ ID NO 37 <211> LENGTH: 212 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 37 Met Lys Glu Tyr Lys Ile Leu Leu Val Asp Asp His Glu Ile Ile Ile 1 5 10 15 Asn Gly Ile Met Asn Ala Leu Leu Pro Trp Pro His Phe Lys Ile Val 20 25 30 Glu His Val Lys Asn Gly Leu Glu Val Tyr Asn Ala Cys Cys Ala Tyr 35 40 45 Glu Pro Asp Ile Leu Ile Leu Asp Leu Ser Leu Pro Gly Ile Asn Gly 50 55 60 Leu Asp Ile Ile Pro Gln Leu His Gln Arg Trp Pro Ala Met Asn Ile 65 70 75 80 Leu Val Tyr Thr Ala Tyr Gln Gln Glu Tyr Met Thr Ile Lys Thr Leu 85 90 95 Ala Ala Gly Ala Asn Gly Tyr Val Leu Lys Ser Ser Ser Gln Gln Val 100 105 110 Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Gln Thr Val Ala Val Asn Lys Arg Tyr Ile Asp 115 120 125 Pro Thr Leu Asn Arg Glu Ala Ile Leu Ala Glu Leu Asn Ala Asp Thr 130 135 140 Thr Asn His Gln Leu Leu Thr Leu Arg Glu Arg Gln Val Leu Lys Leu 145 150 155 160 Ile Asp Glu Gly Tyr Thr Asn His Gly Ile Ser Glu Lys Leu His Ile 165 170 175 Ser Ile Lys Thr Val Glu Thr His Arg Met Asn Met Met Arg Lys Leu 180 185 190 Gln Val His Lys Val Thr Glu Leu Leu Asn Cys Ala Arg Arg Met Arg 195 200 205 Leu Ile Glu Tyr 210 <210> SEQ ID NO 38 <211> LENGTH: 388 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 38 gcttccctcc agttgcctgt tgcaaaatct ttggcacttg atcactatcg cagtacatat 60 agtttcatca gaagattaat cgatggtgtt atcattagga agataaattt cttcatatat 120 aacccagtcg atgactacaa ttacttttta ataagatggc gatgtaaaaa catcgtaaca 180 gtttatttaa taaataattt ttcaaattgt aagtttttat gtcaatgctg aaaatgtaat 240 tgtgaattta tcggaaaatc cgaatgatag aatcgcctgt gacaaggtat atgtagacag 300 catcctgata ttgtacaaga agagatagtc gaaataaatg tgaatcaggc tttttacgga 360 tgtggttgtg agcgaatttg atagaaac 388 <210> SEQ ID NO 39 <211> LENGTH: 262 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Salmonella <400> SEQUENCE: 39 taaaaatatc ttagagccta tcccaccagg cgttaattgg cgcagccagt ttggacacgg 60 atagcgcgca aaaaccgcag cgtacacgta gtacgtgagg tttgactcgc tacgctcgcc 120 cttcgggccg ccgctagcgg cgttcaaaac gctaacgcgt tttggcgagc actgcccagg 180 ttcaaaatgg caagtaaaat agcctaatgg gataggctct tagttagcac gttaattatc 240 tatcgtgtat atggagggga at 262 <210> SEQ ID NO 40 <211> LENGTH: 192 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: EPEC <300> PUBLICATION INFORMATION: <303> JOURNAL: Mol. Microbiol. <304> VOLUME: 28 <306> PAGES: 1-4 <307> DATE: 1998 <400> SEQUENCE: 40 Met Asp Thr Ser Thr Thr Ala Ser Val Ala Ser Ala Asn Ala Ser Thr 1 5 10 15 Ser Thr Ser Met Ala Tyr Asp Leu Gly Ser Met Ser Lys Asp Asp Val 20 25 30 Ile Asp Leu Phe Asn Lys Leu Gly Val Phe Gln Ala Ala Ile Leu Met 35 40 45 Phe Ala Tyr Met Tyr Gln Ala Gln Ser Asp Leu Ser Ile Ala Lys Phe 50 55 60 Ala Asp Met Asn Glu Ala Ser Lys Glu Ser Thr Thr Ala Gln Lys Met 65 70 75 80 Ala Asn Leu Val Asp Ala Lys Ile Ala Asp Val Gln Ser Ser Ser Asp 85 90 95 Lys Asn Ala Lys Ala Gln Leu Pro Asp Glu Val Ile Ser Tyr Ile Asn 100 105 110 Asp Pro Arg Asn Asp Ile Thr Ile Ser Gly Ile Asp Asn Ile Asn Ala 115 120 125 Gln Leu Gly Ala Gly Asp Leu Gln Thr Val Lys Ala Ala Ile Ser Ala 130 135 140 Lys Ala Asn Asn Leu Thr Thr Thr Val Asn Asn Ser Gln Leu Glu Ile 145 150 155 160 Gln Gln Met Ser Asn Thr Leu Asn Leu Leu Thr Ser Ala Arg Ser Asp 165 170 175 Met Gln Ser Leu Gln Tyr Arg Thr Ile Ser Gly Ile Ser Leu Gly Lys 180 185 190 <210> SEQ ID NO 41 <211> LENGTH: 380 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: EPEC <300> PUBLICATION INFORMATION: <303> JOURNAL: Mol. Microbiol. <304> VOLUME: 28 <306> PAGES: 1-4 <307> DATE: 1998 <400> SEQUENCE: 41 Met Leu Asn Val Asn Asn Asp Ile Gln Ser Val Arg Ser Gly Ala Ser 1 5 10 15 Ala Ala Thr Ala Thr Ser Gly Ile Asn Gln Ser Glu Val Thr Ser Ala 20 25 30 Leu Asp Leu Gln Leu Val Lys Ser Thr Ala Pro Ser Ala Ser Trp Thr 35 40 45 Glu Ser Thr Ala Leu Ala Thr Pro Pro Ala Gly His Ser Leu Val Thr 50 55 60 Pro Ser Ala Ala Glu Asp Val Leu Ser Lys Leu Phe Gly Gly Ile Ser 65 70 75 80 Gly Glu Val Thr Ser Arg Thr Glu Gly Thr Glu Pro Gln Arg Ser Thr 85 90 95 Gln Asn Ala Ser Ser Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Leu Ser Gln Val Asn Asn Val 100 105 110 Asp Pro Gln Ala Met Met Met Met Ala Thr Leu Leu Ser Leu Asp Ala 115 120 125 Ser Ala Gln Arg Val Ala Ser Met Lys Asn Ser Asn Glu Ile Tyr Ala 130 135 140 Asp Gly Gln Asn Lys Ala Leu Asp Asn Lys Thr Leu Glu Phe Lys Lys 145 150 155 160 Gln Leu Glu Glu Gln Gln Lys Ala Glu Glu Lys Ala Gln Lys Ser Lys 165 170 175 Ile Val Gly Gln Val Phe Gly Trp Leu Gly Val Ala Ala Thr Ala Ile 180 185 190 Ala Ala Ile Phe Asn Pro Ala Leu Trp Ala Val Val Ala Ile Ser Ala 195 200 205 Thr Ala Met Ala Leu Gln Thr Ala Val Asp Val Met Gly Asp Asp Ala 210 215 220 Pro Gln Ala Leu Lys Thr Ala Ala Gln Ala Phe Gly Gly Leu Ser Leu 225 230 235 240 Ala Ala Gly Ile Leu Thr Ala Gly Ile Gly Gly Val Ser Ser Leu Ile 245 250 255 Ser Lys Val Gly Asp Val Ala Asn Lys Val Gly Ser Asn Ile Val Lys 260 265 270 Val Val Thr Thr Leu Ala Asp Thr Phe Val Asp Asn Val Ala Ser Lys 275 280 285 Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Asn Gly Leu Thr Thr Ser Ser Arg Ser Ile Gly 290 295 300 Thr Thr Val Leu Asn Asn Asp Ala Ala Tyr Tyr Asn Val Leu Ser Gln 305 310 315 320 Val Ser Ala Phe Ala Val Glu Asn Leu Thr Arg Gln Ser Glu Tyr Leu 325 330 335 Ser Gln Ser Ala Lys Ala Glu Leu Glu Lys Ala Thr Leu Glu Leu Gln 340 345 350 Asn Gln Ala Asn Tyr Ile Gln Ser Ala Ser Gln Leu Met Ser Asp Ser 355 360 365 Ala Arg Val Asn Ile Arg Ile Val Ser Gly Arg Val 370 375 380 <210> SEQ ID NO 42 <211> LENGTH: 401 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Yersinia enterocolitica <300> PUBLICATION INFORMATION: <301> AUTHORS: Hakansson, S. Schesser, K. Persson, C. Galyov, E. E. Rosqvist, R. Homble, F. Wolf Watz, H. <303> JOURNAL: EMBO J. <304> VOLUME: 15 <306> PAGES: 5812-5823 <307> DATE: 1996 <400> SEQUENCE: 42 Met Ser Ala Leu Ile Thr His Asp Arg Ser Thr Pro Val Thr Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Pro Tyr Ile Glu Thr Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Leu Gln Thr Gln 20 25 30 Gln Val Ala Gly Glu Leu Lys Asp Lys Asn Gly Gly Val Ser Ser Gln 35 40 45 Gly Val Gln Leu Pro Ala Pro Leu Ala Val Val Ala Ser Gln Val Thr 50 55 60 Glu Gly Gln Gln Gln Glu Ile Thr Lys Leu Leu Glu Ser Val Thr Arg 65 70 75 80 Gly Thr Ala Gly Ser Gln Leu Ile Ser Asn Tyr Val Ser Val Leu Thr 85 90 95 Asn Phe Thr Leu Ala Ser Pro Asp Thr Phe Glu Ile Glu Leu Gly Lys 100 105 110 Leu Val Ser Asn Leu Glu Glu Val Arg Lys Asp Ile Lys Ile Ala Asp 115 120 125 Ile Gln Arg Leu His Glu Gln Asn Met Lys Lys Ile Glu Glu Asn Gln 130 135 140 Glu Lys Ile Lys Glu Thr Glu Glu Asn Ala Lys Gln Val Lys Lys Ser 145 150 155 160 Gly Met Ala Ser Lys Ile Phe Gly Trp Leu Ile Ala Ile Ala Ser Val 165 170 175 Val Ile Gly Ala Ile Met Val Ala Ser Gly Val Gly Ala Val Ala Gly 180 185 190 Ala Met Met Ile Ala Ser Gly Val Ile Gly Met Ala Asn Met Ala Val 195 200 205 Lys Gln Ala Ala Glu Asp Gly Leu Ile Ser Gln Glu Ala Met Gln Val 210 215 220 Leu Gly Pro Ile Leu Thr Ala Ile Glu Val Ala Leu Thr Val Val Ser 225 230 235 240 Thr Val Met Thr Phe Gly Gly Ser Ala Leu Lys Cys Leu Ala Asp Ile 245 250 255 Gly Ala Lys Leu Gly Ala Asn Thr Ala Ser Leu Ala Ala Lys Gly Ala 260 265 270 Glu Phe Ser Ala Lys Val Ala Gln Ile Ser Thr Gly Ile Ser Asn Thr 275 280 285 Val Gly Ser Ala Val Thr Lys Leu Gly Gly Ser Phe Gly Ser Leu Thr 290 295 300 Met Ser His Val Ile Arg Thr Gly Ser Gln Ala Thr Gln Val Ala Val 305 310 315 320 Gly Val Gly Ser Gly Ile Thr Gln Thr Ile Asn Asn Lys Lys Gln Ala 325 330 335 Asp Leu Gln His Asn Asn Ala Asp Leu Ala Leu Asn Lys Ala Asp Met 340 345 350 Ala Ala Leu Gln Ser Ile Ile Asp Arg Leu Lys Glu Glu Leu Ser His 355 360 365 Leu Ser Glu Ser His Arg Gln Val Met Glu Leu Ile Phe Gln Met Ile 370 375 380 Asn Ala Lys Gly Asp Met Leu His Asn Leu Ala Gly Arg Pro His Thr 385 390 395 400 Val <210> SEQ ID NO 43 <211> LENGTH: 390 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Pseudomonas aeruginosa <300> PUBLICATION INFORMATION: <301> AUTHORS: Hauser, A. R. Fleiszig, S. Kang, P. J. Mostov, K. Engel, J. N. <303> JOURNAL: Infect. Immun. <304> VOLUME: 66 <306> PAGES: 1413-1420 <307> DATE: 1998 <400> SEQUENCE: 43 Met Asn Pro Ile Thr Leu Glu Arg Ala Gly Leu Pro Tyr Gly Val Ala 1 5 10 15 Asp Ala Gly Asp Ile Pro Ala Leu Gly Arg Pro Val Ala Arg Asp Val 20 25 30 Glu Ser Leu Arg Val Glu Arg Leu Ala Ala Pro Ala Ala Ala Ser Ala 35 40 45 Ser Gly Thr Gly Val Ala Leu Thr Pro Pro Ser Ala Ala Ser Gln Gln 50 55 60 Arg Leu Glu Val Ala Asn Arg Ala Glu Ile Ala Ser Leu Val Gln Ala 65 70 75 80 Val Gly Glu Asp Ala Gly Leu Ala Arg Gln Val Val Leu Ala Gly Ala 85 90 95 Ser Thr Leu Leu Ser Ala Gly Leu Met Ser Pro Gln Ala Phe Glu Ile 100 105 110 Glu Leu Ala Lys Ile Thr Gly Glu Val Glu Asn Gln Gln Lys Lys Leu 115 120 125 Lys Leu Thr Glu Ile Glu Gln Ala Arg Lys Gln Asn Leu Gln Lys Met 130 135 140 Glu Asp Asn Gln Gln Lys Ile Arg Glu Ser Glu Glu Ala Ala Lys Glu 145 150 155 160 Ala Gln Lys Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Lys Ile Phe Gly Trp Ile Ser Ala 165 170 175 Ile Ala Ser Ile Ile Val Gly Ala Ile Met Val Ala Thr Gly Val Gly 180 185 190 Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Met Ile Ala Gly Gly Val Met Gly Val Val 195 200 205 Ser Gln Ser Val Gln Gln Ala Ala Ala Asp Gly Leu Ile Ser Lys Glu 210 215 220 Val Met Glu Lys Leu Gly Pro Ala Leu Met Gly Ile Glu Ile Ala Val 225 230 235 240 Ala Leu Leu Ala Ala Val Val Ser Phe Gly Gly Ser Ala Val Gly Gly 245 250 255 Leu Ala Lys Leu Gly Ala Lys Ile Gly Gly Lys Ala Ala Glu Met Thr 260 265 270 Ala Ser Leu Ala Ser Lys Val Ala Asn Leu Gly Gly Lys Phe Gly Ser 275 280 285 Leu Ala Gly Gln Ser Leu Ser His Ser Leu Lys Leu Gly Val Gln Val 290 295 300 Ser Asp Leu Thr Leu Asp Val Ala Asn Gly Ala Ala Gln Ala Thr His 305 310 315 320 Ser Gly Phe Gln Ala Lys Ala Ala Asn Arg Gln Ala Asp Val Gln Glu 325 330 335 Ser Arg Ala Asp Leu Thr Thr Leu Gln Gly Val Ile Glu Arg Leu Lys 340 345 350 Glu Glu Leu Ser Arg Met Leu Glu Ala Phe Gln Glu Ile Met Glu Arg 355 360 365 Ile Phe Ala Met Leu Gln Ala Lys Gly Glu Thr Leu His Asn Leu Ser 370 375 380 Ser Arg Pro Ala Ala Ile 385 390 <210> SEQ ID NO 44 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 44 tttttacgtg aagcggggtg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 45 <211> LENGTH: 22 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 45 ggcattagcg gatgtctgac tg 22 <210> SEQ ID NO 46 <211> LENGTH: 22 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 46 caccaggaac cattttctct gg 22 <210> SEQ ID NO 47 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 47 cagcgatgac gatattcgac aag 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 48 <211> LENGTH: 17 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 48 gaaatcccgc agaaatg 17 <210> SEQ ID NO 49 <211> LENGTH: 17 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 49 aaggcgataa tataaac 17 <210> SEQ ID NO 50 <211> LENGTH: 17 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 50 agagatgtat tagatac 17 <210> SEQ ID NO 51 <211> LENGTH: 17 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 51 gcaataagag tatcaac 17 <210> SEQ ID NO 52 <211> LENGTH: 31 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 52 gctaagcttc ggctcaaatt gtttggaaaa c 31 <210> SEQ ID NO 53 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 53 gctaagctta gagatgtatt agatacc 27 <210> SEQ ID NO 54 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 54 attggatccg caagcgtcca gaa 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 55 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 55 tatggatcct cagattaagc gcg 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 56 <211> LENGTH: 29 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 56 atagaattcg gagggagatg gagtggaag 29 <210> SEQ ID NO 57 <211> LENGTH: 30 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 57 atagaattcg aagataaagc gattgccgac 30 <210> SEQ ID NO 58 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 58 gaaggatcca ctccatctcc ctc 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 59 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 59 gaaggatcca tttgctctat ttcttgc 27 <210> SEQ ID NO 60 <211> LENGTH: 30 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 60 atgggatccg agattcgcca gaatgcgcaa 30 <210> SEQ ID NO 61 <211> LENGTH: 30 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 61 atgggatcca ctggcataaa cggtttccgg 30 <210> SEQ ID NO 62 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 62 attggatcct gacgtaaatc attatca 27 <210> SEQ ID NO 63 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 63 attggatcct taagcaataa gtgaatc 27 <210> SEQ ID NO 64 <211> LENGTH: 25 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 64 aaggaattca acaggcaact ggagg 25 <210> SEQ ID NO 65 <211> LENGTH: 26 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 65 ctgccctcgc gaaaattaag ataata 26 <210> SEQ ID NO 66 <211> LENGTH: 17 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 66 cttaattttc gcgaggg 17 <210> SEQ ID NO 67 <211> LENGTH: 18 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 67 ggacgcccct ggttaata 18 <210> SEQ ID NO 68 <211> LENGTH: 29 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 68 ggtctgcagg atttttcacg catcgcgtc 29 <210> SEQ ID NO 69 <211> LENGTH: 30 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 69 ggtctgcaga accattgata tataagctgc 30 <210> SEQ ID NO 70 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 70 gctgtcgact tgtagtgagt gagcaag 27 <210> SEQ ID NO 71 <211> LENGTH: 29 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 71 ggatctagat tttagctcct gtcagaaag 29 <210> SEQ ID NO 72 <211> LENGTH: 28 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 72 ggatctagat ctgaggataa aaatatgg 28 <210> SEQ ID NO 73 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 73 gctgagctct gccgctgacg gaatatg 27 

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule, comprising a nucleic acid sequence comprising at least 50 nucleotides of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:1 or 2, and nucleic acid sequences which under stringent conditions hybridize with SEQ ID NO:1 or
 2. 2. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises at least 50 nucleotides of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 36, nucleic acid sequences which correspond to these nucleic acid sequences within the degeneration of the genetic code, and nucleic acid sequences which under stringent conditions hybridize with these sequences.
 3. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 2, wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises the entire sequence.
 4. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1, wherein at least one coding region is functionally deleted.
 5. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1, having inserted therein at least one insertion cassette for transposon or phage mediated insertion.
 6. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1, further comprising at least one heterologous nucleic acid molecule coding for a polypeptide or peptide is inserted or deletion-inserted.
 7. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim further comprising the sequences flanking said heterologous nucleic acid molecule each having a length of at least 50 nucleotides, preferred 200-250 nucleotides.
 8. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence coding for a bacterial or viral antigen or homologue thereof.
 9. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 6, wherein said heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence coding for a tumor antigen.
 10. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 7, wherein said heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprises at least one gene expression cassette.
 11. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 7, wherein said heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprises at least one transactivator cassette, selective marker cassette, invertase cassette or combination thereof.
 12. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 7, wherein said heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence coding for a polypeptide or peptide targeting and/or immunostimulatory domain.
 13. A recombinant vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 1. 14. A cell comprising the nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 5. 15. The cell according to claim 14, wherein the cell is a gram-negative cell.
 16. The cell according to claim 14, wherein the cell is a Salmonella cell. 17-21. (canceled)
 22. An attenuated gram-negative cell comprising the SPI2 gene locus, wherein at least one gene of the SPI2 locus is inactivated, wherein said inactivation results in an attenuation/reduction of virulence compared to the wild type of said cell.
 23. The attenuated gram-negative cell according to claim 22, wherein at least one inactivated gene is selected from the group consisting of effector (sse) genes, secretion apparatus (ssa) genes, chaperon (ssc) genes and regulation (ssr) genes.
 24. The attenuated gram-negative cell according to claim 22, wherein said cell is an Enterobactericae cell.
 25. The attenuated gram-negative cell according to claim 24, wherein said cell is selected from the group consisting of a Salmonella cell, a Shigella cell and a Vibrio cell.
 26. The attenuated gram-negative cell according to claim 24, wherein said cell has a broad host range.
 27. The attenuated gram-negative cell according to claim 26, wherein said cell is a Salmonella serotype Typhimurium Definitive Type 104 (DT104) cell.
 28. The cell according to claim 22, wherein at least one inactivated gene is selected from the group consisting of sse, ssc and ssr.
 29. The cell according to claim 22, wherein at least one inactivated gene comprises at least one sse gene.
 30. The cell according to claim 29, wherein at least one sse gene is selected from the group consisting of sseC, sseD and sseE.
 31. The cell according to claim 22, wherein at least one inactivated gene comprises at least one ssr gene.
 32. The cell according to claim 31, wherein said at least one Ssr gene is ssrB.
 33. The cell according to claim 22, wherein at least one inactivated gene comprises at least one ssc gene.
 34. The cell according to claim 33, wherein said at least one ssc gene is sscB.
 35. The cell according to claim 22, wherein at least one gene is inactivated by a mutation comprising a deletion.
 36. The cell according to claim 35, wherein said deletion comprises at least 6 nucleotides.
 37. The cell according to claim 35, wherein the mutation comprises a deletion of the complete coding sequence for said gene.
 38. The cell according to claim 22, wherein at least one gene is inactivated by a mutation comprising the insertion of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule.
 39. The cell according to claim 35, wherein said mutation is a non-polar mutation.
 40. The cell according to claim 22, wherein at least one additional gene located outside of the SPI2 locus is inactivated, wherein the inactivation results in a further attenuation/reduction of virulence compared to the wild type.
 41. The cell according to claim 40, wherein said additional gene comprises an aro gene.
 42. The cell according to claim 41, wherein said aro gene is aro A.
 43. The cell according to claim 40, wherein said additional gene is superoxide dismutase.
 44. The cell according to claim 22, comprising at least one selective marker cassette.
 45. The cell according to claim 44, wherein said selective marker cassette is capable of conferring an antibiotic resistance to the cell.
 46. The cell according to claim 22 comprising at least one gene expression cassette.
 47. The cell according to claim 22 comprising at least one transactivator cassette.
 48. The cell according to claim 22 comprising at least one invertase cassette.
 49. The cell according to claim 22 further comprising at least one insertion cassette. 50-68. (canceled)
 69. An attenuated gram-negative cell comprising the SPI2 gene locus, characterized by a lack of at least one SPI2 polypeptide, wherein said lack results in an attenuation/reduction of virulence compared to the wild type of said cell.
 70. The attenuated gram-negative cell according to claim 69, wherein said missing polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of effector (sse) polypeptides, secretion apparatus (ssa) polypeptides, chaperon (ssc) polypeptides 68 and regulatory (ssr) polypeptides. 71-90. (canceled)
 91. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid of at least 100 nucleotides of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 36, nucleic acid sequences which under stringent conditions hybridize with these sequences.
 92. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 91, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is capable of inducing the expression of a nucleic acid sequence coding for a peptide or polypeptide operatively linked to said nucleic acid molecule.
 93. Expression system for the in vivo inducible expression of a heterologous nucleic acid in a target cell, comprising a carrier cell for said heterologous nucleic acid, wherein said carrier cell comprises (a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:35 (ssrA) or a functional homologue thereof, (b) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:37 (ssrB) or a functional homologue thereof, and (c) the nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 92. 94. Expression system according to claim 91, wherein said target cell is a macrophage.
 95. Expression system according to claim 93, wherein said carrier cell is a Salmonella cell.
 96. The expression system according to claim 93, wherein said target cell comprises a gene expression cassette.
 97. The expression system according to claim 93, wherein said target cell comprises an insertion cassette.
 98. The expression system according to claim 93, wherein said target cell comprises a heterologous nucleic acid molecule coding for a peptide or polypeptide. 99-100. (canceled) 